Using bug report database
When I run dpkg-scanpackages to update my local repository databases, I got this error messages:
Can’t locate IO/String.pm in @INC (@INC contains: /etc/perl /usr/local/lib/perl/5.10.1 /usr/local/share/perl/5.10.1 /usr/lib/perl5 /usr/share/perl5 /usr/lib/perl/5.10 /usr/share/perl/5.10 /usr/local/lib/site_perl .) at /usr/bin/dpkg-scanpackages line 23.
BEGIN failed–compilation aborted at /usr/bin/dpkg-scanpackages line 23.
What was that mean? I don’t understand, but I know where to find the information about that, it is bug report.
$ dpkg -S /usr/bin/dpkg-scanpackages
dpkg-dev: /usr/bin/dpkg-scanpackages
$ querybts dpkg-dev
Querying Debian BTS for reports on dpkg-dev…
…
…
(1-7/70) What would you like to do next [N|b|m|r|q|f|?]? f
Enter the search pattern (a Perl-compatible regular expression)
or press ENTER to exit: dpkg-scanpackages
Outstanding bugs — Wishlist items; Unclassified (35 bugs): 1 report
1) #308560 [DPKG-SCANPACKAGES] add exclude and include options
Resolved bugs — Normal bugs (8 bugs): 2 reports
2) #494136 dpkg-scanpackages: Does not scan user defined fields from packages that were given in the contro
3) #557013 dpkg-dev: dpkg-scanpackages doesn’t find IO/String.pm
I searched for “dpkg-scanpackages” keyword, and there’s one result bug #557013 which looks like the one I’ve experienced with.
From the explanation, it is known that to avoid such error like that, we can install libio-string-perl package. Umm, obviously this package hasn’t installed in my system, but without this package in the past, it was smooth with dpkg-scanpackages, wasn’t it? To me this is indeed a real bug. Thankfully, by reading all the related bug reports and the quick answer from the devs, finally there is one solution to this, that the maintainer urges us to upgrade to the latest dpkg-dev, which is version 1.15.5.3.
OK, let’s check this package’s status:
$ apt-cache policy dpkg-dev
dpkg-dev:
Installed: 1.15.5
Candidate: 1.15.5.3
Version table:
1.15.5.3 0
500 http://kambing.ui.ac.id unstable/main Packages
1.15.5.2 0
500 http://kambing.ui.ac.id unstable/main Packages
*** 1.15.5 0
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
Yes, it seems that I have missed two versions. So, with no hesitate at all, I upgrade the dpkg-dev package. And after that, I once again run the dpkg-scanpackages, and the error is disappeared.
The point of this story is what should we do at the very first time when we deal with such error or unproper circumstances in the system. The very first time of course is to look at the bug reports of the distro we used. Just point the browser, or with specific command like querybts in Debian, then we will be able to dive into the bug report databases.
Update those which are important (Debian)
Recently, I was so lazy to update my Linux box. But in the other hand, having system that is not “up-to-date” is not good at all.
Debian’s packages follow such “priorities” level. That’s why, this time I’m only going to update those packages that I think they are such important, so I run this command:
# aptitude install ‘~i~U~p’{required,important,standard}”
I have to answer some questions Aptitude warns me that one or more packages need to be installed/updated in order to accomplish the task. I simply enough answer Yes”.
Windows 7 Sins
FYI, that I do now support the Windows 7 sins campaign which is a movement pioneered by GNU (GnomeGNU Not Unix) and Free Software Foundation. My support is not based on the reason that I am an “Anti-Microsoft” or specifically an “Anti-Windows”. I am NOT a ‘hatred’ of Microsoft® and its’ product called Windows™, in fact I am so thankfull for the experience I had since the very first time I know about DOS® (Disk Operating System) when I was in Junior High School, I still remember how great the feeling was with the BASIC® programming language just because I found couple books and magazines that publishing about this language and providing the codes to be learned. I found them in the city library not far from my school. So on I used Microsoft’s products regularly when I was in college by using Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98 Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and a bit of Windows Vista lately in the present time.
Back to the reason why. Yes I have stated in previous paragraph that “I am NOT Microsoft/Windows hatred”. What I hate is monopoly in every form of its’ manifestation. What I hate is unfreedoms to choose and to use an any alternatives or inovations that exist. What I hate is unopennes to figure up the truth and to understand about what exactly is happening or what exactly is going on. What I hate is the unfair, the government as an institution should give the same portion of attention and chances to Open Source to develop just like in other country that proved they have made succeeded with Open Source.
Perhaps there’s more that “I hate” but I can’t mention them. If you read on Windows 7 Sins maybe you can catch everything that I have stated above. Especially in Education field, I hate when I heard that a school in Indonesia have splashed cash to bought Windows-based computers for their labs. Though it was their money, have they thought that there are such cheaper alternatives? If education is the concern, and knowledge is their main target, then why did they limit their lesson-and-learn activity about computer on just “one operating system”?.
There are more you can read on Windows 7 Sins. Go figure up, and have your opinion. I don’t mean to ask you to come with and join the campaign if you don’t like it. I do this on selfcouncious of myself, and I hope wherever the place you choose to be, you do it on selfcouncious too. As an addition, starting from now on, I put a logo like the picture at the left side in my blog.
