Michael wrote: > On Saturday, 30 May 2020 23:34:30 BST Peter Humphrey wrote: >> On Saturday, 30 May 2020 23:16:56 BST Neil Bothwick wrote: >>> On Sat, 30 May 2020 22:46:18 +0100, Peter Humphrey wrote: >>>>> The point of meta packages is that they install a whole set of stuff, >>>>> in this case "Merge this to pull in all Plasma 5 packages". If you >>>>> don't want the kitchen sink, don't use meta packages. I have a kde >>>>> set in /etc/ portage/sets that includes just what I want. As a result >>>>> I have a decent KDE desktop but without needing networkmanager, or >>>>> any of the PIM stuff. >>>> I tried doing that some time ago. I got so heavily bogged down in a >>>> dependency mire that I gave up. You wouldn't like to show your set, >>>> would you? Please? :) >>> Here you go. I make no claims as to its suitability, or even uptodatedness >> ---8> >> >> Many thanks. After writing that I had another go using a different approach, >> and it just fell into place. Combining your set and mine ought to give me a >> working system. >> >> With such a complex, reticulated (I think that's the word) system as plasma, >> it's easier to subtract from a whole set than to build up from nothing. > In a previous installation I used a similar approach, which soon became > somewhat tiresome. One package was retired, some other took its place and > more than once I would end up tying up myself in knots, trying to change the > list of individual packages and associated USE flags to allow portage to > update my desktop without dragging in all sort of unpleasants. > > In a more recent installation I followed a different route. I installed > selected meta-packages from the list at the bottom of this page: > > https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/KDE > > but first I disabled some USE flags to avoid networkmanager: > > kde-plasma/plasma-meta -networkmanager > kde-plasma/powerdevil -wireless > > This is the plasma-meta flags I use now: > > [I] kde-plasma/plasma-meta > Available versions: > (5) > 5.18.5 [bluetooth +browser-integration crypt +desktop-portal > discover +display-manager elogind grub gtk +handbook +kwallet +legacy-systray > +networkmanager plymouth pulseaudio qrcode +sddm sdk systemd thunderbolt > +wallpapers] ["?? ( elogind systemd )"] > Installed versions: 5.18.5(5)(19:51:01 21/05/20)(bluetooth browser- > integration crypt desktop-portal display-manager elogind handbook kwallet > legacy-systray sddm wallpapers -discover -grub -gtk -networkmanager -plymouth > -pulseaudio -qrcode -sdk -systemd -thunderbolt) > > Admittedly, like you I have also installed LVM which I don't want/need on its > own. It is pulled in by sys-fs/cryptsetup, needed by pmount, which I use and > may want to use with encrypted filesystems in the future. I'm not sure if > ext4 fs encryption is mature enough presently and what it requires. A > project > for a rainy day.
I mostly use the meta packages but there was one that I only needed a couple programs from. I removed the meta package and installed the programs I wanted. It worked fine but it could be that I just picked a couple packages that are easy. Before that, I tried not using any meta packages. That was a disaster. Given my usage, I don't think the benefit of not using meta packages would have saved me much if anything. It results in a larger world file, dependency problems when upgrading plus having more packages to keep up with manually since I run unstable on KDE plus a few other GUI programs. It would seem logical that not using meta package would result in a leaner and easier to update system. Thing is, in reality it isn't that way. Depending on what packages you pick to use but not part of the meta package, it could create more work than it's worth. I to noticed the wireless package coming in. I have a wireless router but everything except my printer and cell phone is hard wired. My puter itself has nothing wireless about it. Still, it's easier to just install it and let it sit there than it is to fight to keep it off. It doesn't do anything, it isn't in my way or popping up annoying messages or anything either. I just let it go. I guess I could disable some USE flags but I doubt that would help reduce anything either. Basically, pick battles that are worth winning. ;-) Sometimes even when you win, you don't get anything for the win. Dale :-) :-) P. S. Video comparing KDE to other desktop was interesting. Maybe KDE is getting back to like it was when KDE3 was around. I sorta miss those days. Neat desktop. KDE4 sure had some growing pains.
