Things not in default pacman

aardwolf · 2008-11-10 09:35:12

In the past I never had this problem, but the last year I more and more had it:

To install useful things, I can't simply use pacman as it is by default anymore to install things. I have to use either AUR (too annoying and complex), or configure different servers than the standard archlinux ones in my pacman configuration (but I prefer to install things from the default servers because those are the official ones).

My biggest issue is how I dislike KDE 4, but people tell me about this kdemod, but I can't even install it from the default pacman servers.

Is Archlinux not the right distro anymore for me? In the past I could, without worries, simply install everything I needed from the standard pacman, now not anymore and I don't like it. If this system of Archlinux doesn't work out for me anymore, which distro would you recommend for me?

filou.linux · 2008-11-10 09:43:01

Hi

AFAIK the default archlinux repos are throttled (as stated in /arch/setup) so you shouln't use that ones anyway. Choose a mirror nearby you, they're up to date. As for KDEmod: there's a special repo for KDEmod (so its just not included in the standard repos). Follow the steps on http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/KDEmod . Good luck!

rson451 · 2008-11-10 13:06:42

kdemod is not an official project, and because of this it will never be in the official repos. Arch has moved on to kde4, as it is the latest and greatest and this is a rolling release distro. If that doesn't fit your needs then you are correct, arch is not for you.

Last edited by rson451 (2008-11-10 13:12:21)

cu3edweb · 2008-11-10 13:58:00

aardwolf wrote:

AUR (too annoying and complex)

Have you tried yaourt? AUR is almost like using pacman with that.

Xyne · 2008-11-10 14:05:05

aardwolf wrote:

In the past I never had this problem, but the last year I more and more had it:
To install useful things, I can't simply use pacman as it is by default anymore to install things. I have to use either AUR (too annoying and complex), or configure different servers than the standard archlinux ones in my pacman configuration (but I prefer to install things from the default servers because those are the official ones).
My biggest issue is how I dislike KDE 4, but people tell me about this kdemod, but I can't even install it from the default pacman servers.
Is Archlinux not the right distro anymore for me? In the past I could, without worries, simply install everything I needed from the standard pacman, now not anymore and I don't like it. If this system of Archlinux doesn't work out for me anymore, which distro would you recommend for me?

If you honestly feel that adding a few simple lines to pacman.conf, installing yaourt, or making a package from the AUR is too much of a hassle, then you're probably using the wrong distro. Your basic complaint is that "the default settings don't let me do everything I want" even though they're ridiculously easy to change. Seriously, adding the kdemod servers takes less than 10 seconds... copy and paste, presto. Building from the AUR is as simple as downloading the tarball, untarring it, makepkg, pacman -U pkg. Yaourt makes it even easier.

Part of the power of Arch is that you CAN get stuff that's not in the official repos very easily. Expecting everything you could imagine to be in the official repos is also a bit silly. There's a maintainer behind each package and there just aren't enough to cover everything. Really though, if you're not prepared to make even a little effort to get what you want, you would probably be happier with Ubuntu.

It's a shame though, because your post implies that you've been using Arch Linux for years without even scratching its potential.

Last edited by Xyne (2008-11-10 14:06:04)

aardwolf · 2008-11-10 14:15:41

I had custom pacman servers (I remember shadowhand and danimoth for example) but after a while they simply get disbanded and disappear. That's why I prefer the official servers and their mirrors

elmer_42 · 2008-11-10 15:36:49

I would like to preface this post by saying that I'm a Hak.5 fan, good job on the show, Darren!

If the AUR annoys you, maybe you should try out yaourt. It's been mentioned in previous posts a few times, and for good reason. As far as I know, pacman:official repo::yaourt:AUR. That is to say that pretty much all you have to do is run `yaourt pkg` and it will install for you. That's why I use it. It's not too much of a hassle installing stuff straight from the AUR, but with yaourt it's just easier.

Xyne · 2008-11-10 16:32:08

aardwolf wrote:

I had custom pacman servers (I remember shadowhand and danimoth for example) but after a while they simply get disbanded and disappear. That's why I prefer the official servers and their mirrors

I don't use KDEMod, but it doesn't seem like their repos will disappear any time soon. Of course official repos are generally better because they have official support, but to limit yourself to them when you clearly want more makes little sense to me. If you've had Arch for years (as you've implied), why not finally get around to using ABS/AUR/yaourt? To not use them is like walking around with an iPhone that you only use for text messages.

Arch Linux

#1 2008-11-10 09:35:12

Things not in default pacman

#2 2008-11-10 09:43:01

Re: Things not in default pacman

#3 2008-11-10 13:06:42

Re: Things not in default pacman

#4 2008-11-10 13:58:00

Re: Things not in default pacman

#5 2008-11-10 14:05:05

Re: Things not in default pacman

#6 2008-11-10 14:15:41

Re: Things not in default pacman

#7 2008-11-10 15:36:49

Re: Things not in default pacman

#8 2008-11-10 16:32:08

Re: Things not in default pacman

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