In Slint software is provided as packages that can be installed, removed and updated.
The packages shipped in the installation ISO come from these repositories:
For version 14.2:
Fro version 14.2.1 onward (64-bit only):
These sources of packages are registered in the file /etc/slapt-get/slapt-getrc.
Do yourself a favor: read the comments in /etc/slapt-get/slapt-getrc and /usr/doc/slapt-get-0.10.2t/README.slapgetrc.Slint in the installed system.
After having installed Slint, you be automatically notified of updates of installed packages coming from repositories registered in /etc/slapt-get/slapt-getrc
You can install additional packages coming from the Salix
and Extra-14.2
repositories using the commands slapt-get
, or the graphical application gslapt
.
You want an application not available in one of these repositories? If the components needed to build it are available in one of the “source” repositories slkbuild or sbo you can use one of the commands slapt-src
or spi
, or the graphical application sourcery
to build and install a package for it.
However, this is more advised for experienced users, as in this case you can occasionally encounter issues like missing dependencies or conflicts with installed packages: the components used to build the packages are provided by volunteers who can not check the results in every possible configuration.
If you have enough experience you can also build packages yourself. If you are interested see how to do that in the Salix and Slackware documentations on the web: these distributions use two different methods with identical results: packages in the Slackware format, that can be installed in both distributions as in Slint, and Slint provides all needed tools, like makepkg
, fakeroot
and slkbuild
.
Some package management tools are accessed in Graphical
mode (from a menu or clicking on an icon) others typing a command in terminal. All the commands should be typed as root
, i.e. with administrative privileges. To use them:
Terminal
type su
(for: Super User) and when asked, type root's password.Graphical
mode, just click on the menu entry or in the icon in the Slint Control Center and when asked, type the root's password.
To know the usage of the command accessed from a terminal, type “<command name> –help”. example for the spi
command:
didier[~]$ spi --help
You can get more in-depth information typing e.g. man spi
instead of spi –help
(no need to be root for that).
Here are the tools intended for end users. Those in bold are the ones you will use most of the time for packages installation and updates
Command | Access | Purpose | Comments |
installpkg | Terminal | Install a package already downloaded | You can use spkg instead |
removepkg | Terminal | Remove an installed package | You can use spkg instead |
upgradepkg | Terminal | Replace an installed package | You can use spkg instead |
spkg | Terminal | Install, remove and upgrade packages | Does not download packages |
slapt-get | Terminal | Search, download and install packages | Manage dependencies |
slapt-src | Terminal | Search, downloads the components, builds and install packages | Used when a already built package is not available |
spi | Terminal | Do most tasks of slapt-get for already built packages, else of slapt-src | |
gslapt | Graphical | Graphical front-end for slapt-get | Accessible from the Slint Control Center |
sourcery | Graphical | graphical front-end for slapt-src | Accessible from the Slint Control Center |
You need to keep your system safe installing the software updates as soon as available:
slapt-get --add-keys
slapt-get -u slapt-get --upgrade
A small icon like this is displayed in the notification area of the panel (top panel, in MATE) to notify of available software updates. Just make a left click on it and follow instructions.
Be aware that some packages are blacklisted in /etc/slapt-get/slapt-getrc, i.e. can not be automatically upgraded or installed.
This is the case for kernel upgrade, provided only as security fixes. See below hox to apply them.
The Linux kernel packages are sometimes upgraded for Slackware version 14.2 to provide security fixes.
This is noted in this Slackware ChangeLog and we will also mention it in the Slint ChangeLogs like this one.
Slint version 14.2 onward should be upgraded accordingly, but kernel packages are blacklisted in /etc/slapt-get/slapt-getrc. For this reason you will know that an upgrade is available as gslapt or slapt-get –upgrade will mention these packages as EXCLUDED.
When this occurs follow the instructions below upgrading. TAll commands are to be typed in a terminal as root:
kernel-firmware kernel-generic kernel-modules kernel-huge kernel-headers kernel-source
And like that for Slint-14.2 (32-bit):
kernel-firmware kernel-generic-smp kernel-generic kernel-huge kernel-headers kernel-modules kernel-huge-smp kernel-modules-smp kernel-source
slapt-get -i <list>
where <list> is the list of packages to be upgraded like: kernel-firmware kernel-generic kernel-modules …
lilo -t -v # then if all goes well: lilo
eliloconfig
Both spi
and slapt-get
have a --search
option or target, see their man pages or the --help
option. gslapt
has a search field. All these tools can then install the chosen packages, and also remove already installed packages.