Package management idea.

Message

martinmtz · #1 Post by **martinmtz** » 2008-12-07 00:38

I know one of the biggest strengths of Debian is the prebuilt packages but, what about a new feature in apt (kind of an advanced apt-build) that lets you compile your packages and if you desire all its dependencies like Gentoo's portage tool?
That will improve Debian's performance a lot without adding too much complexity, and more important it will give more freedom to the end user.

BioTube · #2 Post by **BioTube** » 2008-12-07 00:42

So a source-based apt? I'ved tried FreeBSD's ports(a side effect of my one-day-stand is that my wireless cards don't work under Linux - always use protection!) which uses an ncurses(curses?) interface to ask about optional features. Is that what you're thinking of(I've never used portage)?

anarchyinc666 · #3 Post by **anarchyinc666** » 2008-12-07 00:45

And how is this different from compiling from source? And the fact that you need the dependent packages in order for the install to function correctly or at least the way it was meant to function?

Am I missing something?

BioTube · #4 Post by **BioTube** » 2008-12-07 00:55

Come to think of it, you CAN do this, more or less - just apt-get source a package, modify the debian/rules file and make a new package.

Telemachus · #5 Post by **Telemachus** » 2008-12-07 01:30

What about apt-build?

Issyer · #6 Post by **Issyer** » 2008-12-07 01:33

What about apt-get -b source packagename?

mzilikazi · #7 Post by **mzilikazi** » 2008-12-07 12:17

Telemachus wrote:What about apt-build?

Exactly. Did the OP realize that he actually typed apt-build mewonders?

martinmtz wrote: (kind of an advanced apt-build)