As was done in Debian, Ubuntu has elected to modify the default handling of recommended packages. In Hardy (8.04) apt-config dump shows the default setting APT::Install-Recommends "0"; This has the result of apt-get listing recommended items, but not installing these items by default.
In Intrepid (8.10), this behavior has changed. Now recommends are being treated as depends. For the majority of users, this is tolerable. However, for some users, particularly net-device users, low-spec servers, and minimalists, this is a heavy burden. I have a proposal that would easily remove this burden for the user that wishes to not install recommends by default, and yet easily enable the install recommends for those that want it: 1.) Set up apt to not install recommends in the default configuration 2.) Create a package that writes the following: APT::Install-Recommends "1" ; 3.) Have that package save this as "/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/01[SomeFileName]" (ie "/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/01AptRecommends") The benefits are: The user who does a cli-only install and builds the system up from there (server user, minimalist, etc) are not forced to install packages that are "works best with" (recommends) unless they choose to add them The Disto Packager, at their option, can simply add this package to the "won't work without" (depends) list of their respective -desktop package The "Tweeker" can easily locate and remove the package (and thus the file) from a desktop install, or locate and add the package (and thus the file) from a server or cli install For those users, like myself, that would like to not have Recommends installed by default, simply create a file in /etc/apt/apt.cong.d with the following line: APT::Install-Recommends "0" The file should be named in the following format [number from 00 to 99][text] such as "01AptRecommendsNo" Thank you vidd -- Ubuntu-devel-discuss mailing list Ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-discuss