debian? lean but fat quickly

[C M Reinehr]

Dr. Jones wrote:

> CM:
> 
> I am a firm debian convert as well, but I am miffed at how quickly it 
grows
> fat. You have to be ever vigilent about such rapid expansion.

        I haven't been using it long enough to experience this, so thanks for the 
warning.

> I am still trying to discover the mysteries of dselect and aptitude in
> paring away the unused applications and libraries that take up so much
> space.
> 
> Have you used either of those utilities? I know I need to get a new mega
> giga oodles of space hard drive, but would hope I could get things 
running
> like I want, with minimal space requirements. Any others with tips on 
this,

        I started out with dselect and then graduated to aptitude (much better). 
I've only played with apt-get and dpkg on a 'if I absolutely had to' 
basis. In general, I think the installation & user documentation is better 
than what's available for most of the other distributions, but I could 
have used some more help with /etc/apt/* configuration files. (I muddled 
through, but still have a long way to go before I can say that I've 
mastered them.) I think, the key to using aptitude to it's best advantage, 
requires getting the configuration files properly setup, first. For 
example, setting set up to default to 'testing' packages, while allowing 
you to install the current mozilla package, which is in 'unstable', 
without loading all the other 'unstable' packages.

        In fact, that's pretty much where I am with Debian, now. I have an 
installed system, but all I'm doing with it is learning my way around 
aptitude, apt-get, apt-cache, etc.

cmr

> I appreciate your sharing.
> 
> Scott
> 
>> Debian seems a little more difficult, and takes a little longer, to
>> install, but once installed the advantages are manifold. There are 
plenty
>> of Debian packaged applications. They are easy to install & configure. 
And
>> updates are a breeze. (So far, at least.)
>>
>> Plus, I like the control that using Debian affords. I can start with a
>> very lean, text-based system and then add only the libraries and
>> applications that _I_ actually need and want.

-- 
Registered Linux User #241964
----
"Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle
and quick to anger." -- Samwise Gamgee