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Home > Archive > Debian Developers > March 2004 > A freak (but not so freak) idea: User space apt-get install
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A freak (but not so freak) idea: User space apt-get install
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| Daniel Ruoso 2004-03-10, 4:34 pm |
| Hi,
A friend of mine came to me with a strange question:
"Is it possible to apt-get install without being the super user?"
At the first time, I said no. Obvious. But then he said:
"And if I execute a 'make install', usually I can define the
installation prefix, so I can install into my home directory"
I was a little disturbed by the idea, but it did make some sense. I know
it's strange. But let's think about a lab at college, let's say I need
to test a software I am doing and that requires another software, and I
don't want to (or I don't have how to) bother the lab admin to install
the software.
Then I remembered pbuilder that actually does exactly this. And I
thought that it may be possible to have an user space apt-get install,
and even (in some specific cases) desirable.
What do you think?
daniel
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| Steinar H. Gunderson 2004-03-10, 4:34 pm |
| On Wed, Mar 10, 2004 at 05:38:51PM -0300, Daniel Ruoso wrote:
> I was a little disturbed by the idea, but it did make some sense. I know
> it's strange. But let's think about a lab at college, let's say I need
> to test a software I am doing and that requires another software, and I
> don't want to (or I don't have how to) bother the lab admin to install
> the software.
Try something like fakechroot?
/* Steinar */
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| Paul Hampson 2004-03-10, 4:34 pm |
| On Wed, Mar 10, 2004 at 05:38:51PM -0300, Daniel Ruoso wrote:
> A friend of mine came to me with a strange question:
> "Is it possible to apt-get install without being the super user?"
> At the first time, I said no. Obvious. But then he said:
> "And if I execute a 'make install', usually I can define the
> installation prefix, so I can install into my home directory"
> I was a little disturbed by the idea, but it did make some sense. I know
> it's strange. But let's think about a lab at college, let's say I need
> to test a software I am doing and that requires another software, and I
> don't want to (or I don't have how to) bother the lab admin to install
> the software.
> Then I remembered pbuilder that actually does exactly this. And I
> thought that it may be possible to have an user space apt-get install,
> and even (in some specific cases) desirable.
> What do you think?
I think if you wander through the -devel list archives, you'll find a
quite long thread discussing the idea, and implementation details
thereof. Probably be quite useful to you as you bring your own
thoughts and ideas on this together.
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| Matt Zimmerman 2004-03-10, 5:34 pm |
| On Wed, Mar 10, 2004 at 05:38:51PM -0300, Daniel Ruoso wrote:
> A friend of mine came to me with a strange question:
> "Is it possible to apt-get install without being the super user?"
>
> At the first time, I said no. Obvious. But then he said:
> "And if I execute a 'make install', usually I can define the
> installation prefix, so I can install into my home directory"
However, a Debian package is quite a bit more sophisticated than a "make
install".
> I was a little disturbed by the idea, but it did make some sense. I know
> it's strange. But let's think about a lab at college, let's say I need
> to test a software I am doing and that requires another software, and I
> don't want to (or I don't have how to) bother the lab admin to install
> the software.
>
> Then I remembered pbuilder that actually does exactly this. And I
> thought that it may be possible to have an user space apt-get install,
> and even (in some specific cases) desirable.
What pbuilder does is basically the simplest way to do it: give the user a
virtual system (chroot, UML, xen, vserver, what have you), and let them
install software inside there.
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| Chad Walstrom 2004-03-10, 6:35 pm |
| On Wed, Mar 10, 2004 at 05:38:51PM -0300, Daniel Ruoso wrote:
> Then I remembered pbuilder that actually does exactly this. And I
> thought that it may be possible to have an user space apt-get install,
> and even (in some specific cases) desirable.
Take a look at dpkg(8), apt.conf(5) and
/usr/share/doc/apt/examples/configure-index.gz
In particular, look at dpkg's options for --force-not-root and
--root=<DIRECTORY>. Typically, you could use this w/other force options
to install in $HOME. Set up apt w/it's Dir:: options to point to
directories in $HOME.
Once you've set things up, write a HOWTO and post it here and on Debian
User. ;-)
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| Ian Eure 2004-03-10, 6:35 pm |
| On Wednesday 10 March 2004 12:38 pm, Daniel Ruoso wrote:
> What do you think?
>
``dpkg --root=`pwd` --force-non-root -i *.deb''
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| Number Six 2004-03-10, 6:35 pm |
| On Wed, Mar 10, 2004 at 01:08:06PM -0800, Ian Eure wrote:
> On Wednesday 10 March 2004 12:38 pm, Daniel Ruoso wrote:
> ``dpkg --root=`pwd` --force-non-root -i *.deb''
In what ways is this different from "dpkg -x foo.deb ." ?
As non-root, one would think no package state is modified.
I do the latter often when I just want to use a low-impact package for a
little bit without installing it.
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| Martin Albert 2004-03-10, 6:35 pm |
| On Wednesday 10 March 2004 22:08, Steinar H. Gunderson wrote:
> On Wed, Mar 10, 2004 at 05:38:51PM -0300, Daniel Ruoso wrote:
>
> Try something like fakechroot?
Yes and keep us/me informed. Replace and mix 'lab' and 'admin' above
creatively with test-machine and d.o - it could be so helpful.
martin
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| Martin Albert 2004-03-10, 7:35 pm |
| On Wednesday 10 March 2004 23:50, Number Six wrote:
>
> In what ways is this different from "dpkg -x foo.deb ." ?
> As non-root, one would think no package state is modified.
First, thanks for the idea. Just doesn't help with build-depends.
Everybody knows, would be silly wo. the 2nd part: man dpkg-deb -x
Note that extracting a package to the root directory will not result
in a correct installation ! Use dpkg to install packages.
Better: apt-get to test proper installation under real conditions.
[zzzap]
> Take a look at dpkg(8), apt.conf(5) and
> /usr/share/doc/apt/examples/configure-index.gz
> .. look at dpkg's options for --force-not-root and --root
Does it work again? It didn't, to my roots content, last times i tried.
> Once you've set things up, write a HOWTO here and on Debian User. ;-)
It's all configs, still ;)
If it works, it's so easy with Debian! (see me smile!)
In the end build, install and run from source repo in and into chroots.
ReadOnly as possible and wipe out / reboot after session or
keep dynamically, with eg. dpkg-reconfigure deb-chroots.
Have that on developers@home and eg. dd-test-sparc.d.o
Have a nice day, martin
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| Chad Walstrom 2004-03-10, 7:35 pm |
| On Wed, Mar 10, 2004 at 02:50:14PM -0800, Number Six wrote:
>=20
> In what ways is this different from "dpkg -x foo.deb ." ? As
> non-root, one would think no package state is modified.
The former allows you to keep a running package database with which you
can remove, purge, and configure packages.
Obviously, you'll want to update your local shell environment to include
LD_LIBRARY_PATH, MANPATH, PATH, etc. variables to the correct locations.
--=20
Chad Walstrom <chewie@wookimus.net> http://www.wookimus.net/
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| Number Six 2004-03-10, 7:35 pm |
| On Wed, Mar 10, 2004 at 05:36:27PM -0600, Chad Walstrom wrote:
> On Wed, Mar 10, 2004 at 02:50:14PM -0800, Number Six wrote:
>
> The former allows you to keep a running package database with which you
> can remove, purge, and configure packages.
Help me crawl a bit, don't answer opaquely:
I've never gotten the hang of this "chroot" sort of thing. So to test
this, I added a user "joe", logged in as him, and ran:
$dpkg --root=`pwd` --force-not-root -i /path/to/tar_*.deb
dpkg: unable to access dpkg status area: No such file or directory
There's no "initial package database" structure there.
Please don't answer opaquely: what steps are a prerequisite to get
started?
Thanks
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| Goswin von Brederlow 2004-03-25, 6:45 pm |
| Daniel Ruoso <daniel@ruoso.com> writes:
> Hi,
>
> A friend of mine came to me with a strange question:
> "Is it possible to apt-get install without being the super user?"
D-I does it during build. Read the source on how to do it.
MfG
Goswin
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