Can't Install Application Software (frustrated)

[jomo]

I flashed Opie/Open-Zaurus onto my SL-C860.  All seemed to go alright.  Except.  Now I can't install any software.  I get endless dependency errors.  Every time I try to satisfy the dependency by installing the missing module/package/library/what-ever, I get yet another slew of dependency errors.  How the FRAG do you get anything installed on this goofy OS?!!!!  Oh, and the FAQs are little help at all.  I've already read them.

[Pyrates]

First of all, you should be more friendly! Sorry to hear about your problems, and we'll try to help you, but OZ is volunteer work, and if it doesn't work for you, you may use whatever else you want to, and criticism is always welcome, but calling that hard work "goofy" is not appropriate.

Now for your problem. You should post more details. How are you trying to install what, and what exactly are the error messages? What version of OZ are you using, where did you download it from? Usually, the command-line ipkg is considered much better than the graphical package manager. Which one did you use? There are two, and one isn't really working from what I know.

What FAQ's did you read? You know about the OE Wiki? Sure, documentation is pretty incomplete, if we can solve your problem, you should add the solution to the wiki, others will be grateful.

Cheers
Philipp

[jomo]

I'm sorry if my previous post sounded unfriendly.  Two points:

1. I do not denigrate the work that others have been doing gratis.  I actually have to say that the UI is stunningly beautiful (beats Pocket PC and PalmOS hands down for eye-appeal), and it's clear that the Opie/OZ netizens are commited to continual improvement instead of letting the whole thing just die off.  I think it's great that you guys are out there doing this in your spare time, as a hobbiest, I appreciate the effort you (collectively) put in.  These are the things that attracted me to Opie/OZ in the first place.

2. I have been attempting to do the "right thing" and read the forum posts etc. to do self-help and learn the system as opposed to being a whiner, endlessly asking stupid questions that have already been asked.  Unfortunately, a lot of what I see is newbie-bashing.  We are continually told to "go read such-and-such FAQ".  Unfortunately, the FAQ's often skip steps or leave out key details.  This is the source of my frustration with the Open-Source movement at the moment.  Some and that's only a few, but often a very vocal few, of you come off as a little elitist.


Now.  My situation:
I have installed Opie/OZ 3.5.2, which appears to be the latest "released" version.  I expected incompatibilities with the various Qtopia apps.  What I did not expect was that the various "compiled-for-Opie" applications such as Opie-sheet etc. would give me so many problems.  I have tried ipkg from the command line, having become familiar with it through the original Sharp ROM as well as trying the GUI installer.  The response is a request for dependent code.  So I start over, attempting to install the dependencies first.  And those modules/packages ask for yet more dependencies.

I have/had an expectation that, if I download all the suggested dependencies for a given application, they should install without hitting me up for further dependencies, which then hit me up for further dependencies.  If this is an incorrect assumption, you guys really should make that clear on the Opie/OZ sites because it's not really apparent at first glance.  If there is some magical "download it this way" technique which eliminates this hassle, you should probably put that on your site too.  As it stands, I have thus far been categorically unable to make ANYTHING work on Opie/OZ.

[lardman]

Now. My situation:
The response is a request for dependent code. So I start over, attempting to install the dependencies first. And those modules/packages ask for yet more dependencies.

I have/had an expectation that, if I download all the suggested dependencies for a given application, they should install without hitting me up for further dependencies, which then hit me up for further dependencies.

Either use the feed on the net, or create a local feed, and then the dependencies will be handled for you automatically.

If you think about it, ipkg doesn't know what's available locally unless you provide a feed (Packages file listing the files, etc), so it can't handle the dependencies unless you use one.


Si

[Jcroto1]

Hello jomo, are you getting your prgrams from the 3.5.2 oz feed?

http://www.openzaurus.org/official/unstable/3.5.2/feed/
http://www.openzaurus.org/official/unstable/3.5.2/feed/opie/  <--- main opie apps

[Pyrates]

Jomo, you're right about the lack of documentation and stuff, just be more polite in your criticism.

As for the dependencies, I can't really see what you mean. I once used my Z without having it connected to the internet, so I had to manually download all packages I wanted as well, and so I got into the "get program, see dependencies, download dependencies, try to install them, find more dependencies" cycle as well, but it wouldn't last too long. Ok, that's some time ago, if you want specific help, you need to provide more details.

Other than that, I recommend connecting your Z to the internet, via your desktop PC probably. That should be documented well, and once you have that, you can add the feeds Jcroto1 mentioned, and then dependencies will be resolved automagically.

As for your assumption, it's just wrong by the nature of dependencies, it isn't like that in any linux distribution, just that most come on CDs which have all dependencies on them with a package manager that can handle that stuff. Ipkg can handle that as well, but the Z can't use CDs, so you have to provide a source -- the mentioned feeds.

If you have trouble with your setup, or want help on installing a particular package, ask. That "newbie-bashing" your mentioned sure is a problem, but people here at ZUG are helpfull and friendly. If you read a document and can't make sense of it, you should definitely say you read it and state where you get stuck, because otherwise people will assume you just didn't read it (which is because that happens a lot as well, people to lazy to do any work for what they want and seeking solutions that are directly fit-to-their-needs).

Cheers
Philipp

[Pcghost]

Don't forget. If you are installing to SD, and the package automagically downloads and installs the dependencies (also to SD), you may need to run ipkg-link mount /mnt/card every now and then to update the symlinks. I noticed occasionally the GUI package manager fails to link installed dependencies when they reside on the SD card.

And for the record... The openzaurus developers rule.    Keep up the good work people..

[lardman]

but the Z can't use CDs, so you have to provide a source -- the mentioned feeds.

Feeds can be local though (as long as you have the Packages file in the dir). Alter the src lines in /etc/ipkg.conf to use file:///path/here rather than http://address/here


Si

[jomo]

Ok,
  After digging around on the OZ site (I had to reinstall OZ.  Don't ask.), I stumbled upon a (the) feed with ipks that would work in 3.5.2.  Phew!  Persistence pays off, I guess.  For all of you who were kind enough to reply to this thread, many thanks.  I have one last suggestion, and I hope you will take it as constructive criticism, as I really think that OZ is very good to say you do this in your free time (Better than the schliemiels at Sharp who have let this whole thing languish, and they get PAID?!?!).  Please, please, please, consider re-organizing the Opie and OZ sites so it's more apparent which ipks work with which OZ/Opie release.  It appears that a lot of my trouble comes from downloading ipks listed under "stable" that weren't compatible with 3.5.2.  I sort of assumed (and yes, I do know what happens when you AssUMe) that OZ/Opie were A.) a little more backwards compatible than they actually are, and B.) that I (being a newbie) should only install apps listed in your "stable" feeds.  Honest, I was trying to do the right thing and not muck around with stuff that you guys were still working on so I didn't have to come here and make an A$$ of myself trying to get help with code-in-progress.

Great work guys.  OZ/Opie is quality work.