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Install ffmpeg... Only to Uninstall gnome?
in Installation
I am attempting to install ffmpeg via Terminal but I keep coming across messages stating the removal of gnome from my system. I need ffmpeg in order to convert videos via the command line but I am worried about accidentally destroying my laptop. My system is running the x86_64 version of Debian GNU/Linux Squeeze.
If I install ffmpeg and remove gnome, what will happen?
Thank you to anyone who can answer this question!
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What repositories do you have enabled?
What's the message that tells you to uninstall gnome?
Regards
I just don't see any reason for it to force removal of a window manager, which is why I would like to see the error message. The dependency list for the app may have invalid entries or you may be misreading the message.
If I have to, I will install debian in a vm to test it for you but I want to see what is being stated first.
Gnome is a Graphical desktop environment. Chances are, you want it, or some subset of it. I don't know much about Debian, but in general, it sounds like you are having dependency issues. How exactly are you trying to install the ffmpeg software? Sometimes when I get into dependency hell, I have to resort to installing the package manually (from a source tarball, etc.).
That means you did something wrong. The further you get into installing programs from source and mixing it with the use of the package manager the more problems you'll get.
Use the right tool for the right job:
Install software <-> package manager!!!
The thing is that if there's a dependency problem you should *solve* it rather than workaround it.
Regards
Software Sources:
http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ squeeze-updates main
http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ squeeze-updates main (Source Code)
http://debian-multimedia.fx-services.com/ stable main
http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/ squeeze-updates main contrib non-free
Here is a print out from my terminal:
Section that says to uninstall gnome:
FYI, I get the problem when I am trying to install a package that is not in my mainline "approved" repo, but is some other repo that i've temporarily enabled to install some specific thing. That repo may have different opinions about package versions that it needs, etc.. and it is far easier to do the *wrong* thing and install it from scratch. I have not created any additional problems for myself doing just that.
Good point; I removed the repos from Wheezy and Sid, as I thought those may have caused the problem. This is still a most perplexing issue.
My feeling is, since you aren't given a list of all the gnome apps, it may not remove all of gnome. One way of testing this would be to do: to simulate what would happen if you actually did the "apt-get remove gnome" command. Besides, if you don't use the -y option, it should ask you (Yes/No) if you want to continue with the removal.
See also:
http://packages.debian.org/stable/gnome/gnome
and
http://linux.die.net/man/8/apt-get
Still wrong: rebuild the package yourself (that's why there is a "src" or "deb-src" section in the apt.conf [might be different, it's been a while since I last used debian]).
You could as well install the deb with dpkg and call the no-deps option (again, don't know the actual commaand).
Trust me: installing programs from source, sooner or later, will give you headaches.
Trust me: installing programs from source, sooner or later, will give you headaches.[/quote]
I concur; I used to have so many problems when I exclusively compiled from source. Now, I only undertake it when it is the only feasible option available.
In regards to Goineasy9's suggestion of simulating a removal of Gnome, I have tested the following in terminal:
It did not state anything about removing the gnome-desktop-environment, which would cause a massive amount of failure on an epic level. I am going to create a virtual matryoshka version of Debian within Debian and remove gnome. I will report back my findings ASAP.
You could as well use apt-cache to find out dependencies about ffmpeg...
Regards
Here's what came up:
One thing that might solve this is using the repo with the most updated version *first* (higher/first in the config file). "apt-get install repo/ffmpeg" might work as well.
You could try removing gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg and install it again (for that you'll need to use the -force option)
It's kinda late right now so I'll come back tomorrow to check if you solved the issue!
Regards
That was already decided, the purpose of this thread is to figure out why the installation of ffmpeg is stating it would cause gnome to be removed. I think Marc is on the right track to help the OP resolve his issue.
Macro or metapackage?
Update: After accidentally f*%!ing up my / directory while exploring a different issue, I opted to back up my pertinent data and start over. This time, I paid careful attention to which repositories were enabled during installations and upgrades. I used Wheezy only to obtain LibreOffice files before disabling the repository. It may have been around this time originally when something went wrong and synaptic attempted to pull different files from different repositories (I am still attempting to figure out what really went haywire). Thank you to everyone who helped with this curious conundrum!