MX Linux Forum

Request: add Paul's "How to Break Your System" posts to the Announcements under all of the help forums and subforums as was done recently for the guide to asking for help.

Reason: people don't see that sticky post unless they happen to click on the MX Help forum in the Board Index. If they click directly on one of its subforums, or on Software Configuration, Hardware Configuration, General or one of its subforums, they won't see it. There are too many newbie posts where they add PPAs or install an app they find on the web rather than installing from the repos (we're getting a lot of ex-Ubuntu/Mint newbies that are used to doing things that way: PPAs and direct installation of .deb packages.)

Expected results: doubtful that everyone will bother to read it but at least it will be there in front of them in all of the help-related forums, so at least a few more people than currently might see it and heed it, and be spared from ending up with b0rken FrankenMX installations.

(Edit: correct a typo)

the Paul post need to be a little bit more elaborate
yes not doing a FrankenDebian is a good one but the guide is not complete
https://wiki.debian.org/DontBreakDebian

Also activating and deactivating repos could be source of a lot of mistake and it is not the best, proper way.
I would recommend to explain how to pin a package and lower the priority of the repo instead.

jodumont wrote: Tue Jul 02, 2019 12:29 am the Paul post need to be a little bit more elaborate
yes not doing a FrankenDebian is a good one but the guide is not complete
https://wiki.debian.org/DontBreakDebian

Also activating and deactivating repos could be source of a lot of mistake and it is not the best, proper way.
I would recommend to explain how to pin a package and lower the priority of the repo instead.

I would instead recommend using the MX Package Installer, which temporarily enables the MX Test and Backports repos only for that session when their tabs are clicked. I would also recommend leaving the MX Repo Manager alone other than to click the select fastest repo for me buttons on the MX and Debian tabs.

I've never been a fan of the 3rd tab in Repo manager.

Too many uninitiated users selecting and deselecting things without thinking. I've raised it before. I bet that's where a lot of the "leaving test repo permanently enabled" issues come from.

asqwerth wrote: Tue Jul 02, 2019 2:29 am I've never been a fan of the 3rd tab in Repo manager.

Too many uninitiated users selecting and deselecting things without thinking. I've raised it before. I bet that's where a lot of the "leaving test repo permanently enabled" issues come from.

Maybe in MX Repo Manager the test and backport repos could be moved to their own subsection in the display (like "other.list") with warning text saying that leaving them permanently enabled will break your system? Unless that would cause problems for MXPI. Maybe just leave them where they are but add the warning?

When you exit the Package Installer normally, my understanding is that any potentially risky repo is disabled. Is that not the case?

Chris

chrispop99 wrote: Tue Jul 02, 2019 3:33 am When you exit the Package Installer normally, my understanding is that any potentially risky repo is disabled. Is that not the case?

Chris

That is the case. The problem arises when people go into MX Repo Manager, enable MX Test and/or Debian Backports repos for use with apt, apt-get or Synaptic then leave them enabled. The next time the MX Updater runs and they allow it to update, blammo! Broken system.

Yep, Chris, it's the dratted third tab in MX Repo Manager that is the problem.

If that is actually the problem, then post a proposal in the Dev Team Forum that a warning pop up when that tab is clicked similar to the one in MXPI for MX Test Repo.

I raised it before in the Dev Team Forum, under the topic "Repo Manager 3rd tab".

Hmmm, looking at the last post in that thread, I can't be sure if the pop-up has been added for people enabling Test Repo.

To be honest I haven't checked Tab 3 since then, except to disable the debian-updates repo in MX15/16. Sorry I overlooked following up on that thread.

Could someone check? I won't get to my PC until late tonight.

No pop up when clicking tab 3 on MX Repo Manager.

The popup has been added to MXPI but not RM.

According to Adrian's last post in that thread, the envisaged popup was to appear when someone actually enables the Test Repo in tab 3, and not when clicking on Tab 3 itself.

Oh, yes it does pop up.

OK, so people are suitably warned for the Test Repo. How about enabling Backports in Tab 3?

I'm on 19a1 ATM, so can't tell you. Sorry.

No pop-up when enabling backports.

I didn't even know there was one when enabling test as I've never done that.

Thanks, JayM.

In any case, dolphin_oracle says there is some development afoot in this area, so perhaps we should get back on topic, which is whether to add Paul's post to the Announcements section at the top of the forum. I think I've derailed this enough!

My on-topic view is that if there are too many lines up there, people will just ignore them all. Maybe a link to Paul's post can be added to the "How to Ask for Help" post instead, as a good guide to "WHat Not To Do".

Jerry3904 wrote: Tue Jul 02, 2019 6:29 am If that is actually the problem, then post a proposal in the Dev Team Forum that a warning pop up when that tab is clicked similar to the one in MXPI for MX Test Repo.

A while ago, I suggested that whenever test repo would be enabled (no matter what reason) and as long as repo would be enabled, there would be some kind of notification signaling this. For example, icon that notify us that there are updates, could be turned bright red... (heck, make it flashing even lol) That way, if some test repo stays enabled due of computer crash and MXPI couldn't switch back to normal repo, user would be warned.

Maybe you guys in charge may find this suggestion useful?

Thanks, we'll put it in the hopper for MX-19 development.

Jerry3904 wrote: Tue Jul 02, 2019 10:16 am Thanks, we'll put it in the hopper for MX-19 development.

Great, thanks!

Thank for the tips
while I move from Switzerland to Vietnam
today my update didn't works
a quick sellect fastest repo fixed the situation

JayM wrote: Tue Jul 02, 2019 1:44 am I would also recommend leaving the MX Repo Manager alone other than to click the select fastest repo for me buttons on the MX and Debian tabs.

PS: still learning MX but I see more and more it become so popular