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Because of something I did during an anthropology lecture, I learned the hard way to read the "The following packages will be REMOVED" list when upgrading a package to backports in Debian GNU + Linux. (lemmy.ca)
submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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  1. I upgraded pipewire from stable to backports (I want to know ~~if this is related to my problem~~ why essential packages were removed)
Start-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:02
Commandline: apt install libpipewire-0.3-0/bookworm-backports
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Install: libpulsedsp:amd64 (16.1+dfsg1-2+b1, automatic), pulseaudio:amd64 (16.1+dfsg1-2+b1, automatic), pulseaudio-utils:amd64 (16.1+dfsg1-2+b1, automatic), libasound2-plugins:amd64 (1.2.7.1-1, automatic), policykit-1-gnome:amd64 (0.105-8, automatic), pulseaudio-module-bluetooth:amd64 (16.1+dfsg1-2+b1, automatic), libspeexdsp1:amd64 (1.2.1-1, automatic)
Upgrade: libspa-0.2-modules:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1, 1.2.3-1~bpo12+1), libpipewire-0.3-0:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1, 1.2.3-1~bpo12+1)
Remove: pipewire-pulse:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), pipewire-audio-client-libraries:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), t2-apple-audio-dsp-speakers161:amd64 (0.2.0-1), gnome:amd64 (1:43+1), gnome-remote-desktop:amd64 (43.3-1), pipewire:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), gnome-shell-extensions:amd64 (43.1-1), gnome-shell:amd64 (43.9-0+deb12u2), pipewire-tests:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), gdm3:amd64 (43.0-3), libspa-0.2-jack:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), libspa-0.2-bluetooth:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), pipewire-jack:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), gstreamer1.0-pipewire:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), t2-apple-audio-dsp-mic:amd64 (0.4.0-1), pipewire-audio:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), pipewire-bin:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), chrome-gnome-shell:amd64 (42.1-3), task-gnome-desktop:amd64 (3.73), gnome-session:amd64 (43.0-1+deb12u1), gnome-browser-connector:amd64 (42.1-3), gnome-core:amd64 (1:43+1), libpipewire-0.3-modules:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), wireplumber:amd64 (0.4.13-1), gnome-shell-extension-prefs:amd64 (43.9-0+deb12u2), pipewire-alsa:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:35

Start-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:43
Commandline: apt install libpipewire-0.3-modules/bookworm-backports
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Install: libconfig++9v5:amd64 (1.5-0.4, automatic), libxml++2.6-2v5:amd64 (2.40.1-3, automatic), libpipewire-0.3-modules:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1), libffado2:amd64 (2.4.7-1, automatic)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:48

Start-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:57
Commandline: apt install pipewire/bookworm-backports
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Install: pipewire:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1), pipewire-bin:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, automatic), wireplumber:amd64 (0.4.13-1, automatic)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  15:00:02
  1. I suspended the computer, and after resume, the lock screen was broken:
  • When I clicked on the password field, the text cursor only appeared for a split second, and I could not type in it
  • Clicking on the user switch button on the bottom right corner did nothing
  • A few times, the text "Authentication error" randomly appeared for a split second, probably for 1 frame
  • No way to reboot the normal way, because I could only use the power menu on the lock screen, which only has suspend
  1. I used the power button to reboot, and instead of GNOME, there was darkness
Debian GNU/Linux 12 dullbananas-macbookpro161 tty1

dullbananas-macbookpro161 login:
  1. I downgraded pipewire to stable
Start-Date: 2024-09-18  15:20:16
Commandline: apt install pipewire/stable
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Downgrade: pipewire:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1), pipewire-bin:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1), libspa-0.2-modules:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1), libpipewire-0.3-modules:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1), libpipewire-0.3-0:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  15:20:26
  1. I ran dpkg --verify and got this output
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.9-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.9-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias.bin
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.9-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.9-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep.bin
missing     /usr/share/dbus-1/services/io.snapcraft.Prompt.service
??5?????? c /etc/systemd/logind.conf
??5?????? c /etc/tlp.conf
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.8-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.8-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias.bin
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.8-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.8-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep.bin
??5?????? c /etc/gdm3/daemon.conf
missing     /etc/os-release.debootstrap
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.7-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.7-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias.bin
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.7-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.7-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep.bin
  1. I reinstalled systemd (not sure if this made a difference)
Start-Date: 2024-09-18  15:48:58
Commandline: apt install --reinstall systemd
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Reinstall: systemd:amd64 (252.30-1~deb12u2)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  15:49:02
  1. I reinstalled gdm3, and immediately without me doing anything else, there was GNOME instead of darkness
Start-Date: 2024-09-18  15:51:49
Commandline: apt install --reinstall gdm3
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Install: gnome-remote-desktop:amd64 (43.3-1, automatic), gnome-shell:amd64 (43.9-0+deb12u2, automatic), power-profiles-daemon:amd64 (0.12-1+b1, automatic), gdm3:amd64 (43.0-3), gstreamer1.0-pipewire:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1, automatic), chrome-gnome-shell:amd64 (42.1-3, automatic), gnome-session:amd64 (43.0-1+deb12u1, automatic), gnome-browser-connector:amd64 (42.1-3, automatic), gnome-shell-extension-prefs:amd64 (43.9-0+deb12u2, automatic)
Remove: tlp:amd64 (1.5.0-2), tlp-rdw:amd64 (1.5.0-2)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  15:52:05

  1. End of class

  2. I reinstalled tlp because installing gdm3 removed it

  3. After selecting an app search result, instead of a new window opening, an existing window was focused, and this led to me discovering that my built-in extensions were gone

  4. While writing this post, I got the idea of using the list of removed packages in the apt history log output from apt install libpipewire-0.3-0/bookworm-backports to see what packages to install again, so I did that, then I also had to uninstall firefox-esr again

  5. I rebooted, and my built-in extensions and other stuff were resurrected, so now I have full redemption

  6. Another Window Session Manager restored my windows in a way that pissed me off

(Failed attempts of recovery are not listed)

Edit: actually I made the mistake 1 minute before the start of class

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 hours ago

Newer versions of apt now have coloured text showing what will be installed (green) and what will be REMOVED (red)

Handy feature for someone like me who also makes mistakes

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 hours ago

Yet even without a WM, still better than macOS

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

It just wanted to remove French, ofc I said yes!!

But also, honestly, I always "-y".
The gamble is I'll have to use an earlier ~~bitchtree~~ btrfs snapshot.

And thx for the great commentary on point 13.

[–] [email protected] 43 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

1 minute before class: the perfect time to mess with Linux audio and video drivers.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 18 hours ago

This is why I use Debian 12 with minimal backports on my main college laptop. (I just have backports kernel and firmware for the Wi-Fi card as well as backports smartctl due to a bugfix).

[–] [email protected] 14 points 17 hours ago

Yes, DO AS I SAY!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 hours ago

Hard lesson to learn, I've been taught the same myself.

Some others have said it already, but I will repeat the gospel, use Timeshift!

I did nearly the exact same thing you did on my Debian laptop at a tech conference right at the beginning of an important session.

I decided to mess around with my wireless drivers. IDK why I thought that was a good idea, I don't remember what I was trying to do, but I borked my networking stack completely.

couldn't get it to reconnect, couldn't get the settings to revert or anything.

I quickly ran Timeshift and selected my most recent automatic daily restore point. 5 minutes later I was back 100% Internet was working perfectly, nothing funky, and I was able to catch up and follow the lecture again.

Timeshift is awesome too because it runs from the command line if you need it to. So even borking your GUI isn't a death sentence, you can still run Timeshift from the terminal and restore your system.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) 
Debian GNU/Linux 12 dullbananas-macbookpro161 tty1

dullbananas-macbookpro161 login:

What more do you need?!

Lol but seriously,

Remove: ...gnome-shell...

That'll do it.

You should consider setting up btrfs w/ Timeshift.

[–] [email protected] 109 points 1 day ago (7 children)

And this is why you don't update your system while in the middle of something you need it for

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Where's the fun in that? You've gotta raw dog life to get your blood pumping.

^Hey, ^why ^are ^my ^prod ^credentials ^revoked? ^Guys?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This is why I love ostree distributions so much for my laptop. Not only can I safely update in class, I once switched distributions twice in one day of classes with only like 30s of total downtime, I just waited for the professor to go off on a tangent I didn't need to take notes about so I could reboot.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 12 hours ago

I do the same with nix, unless I'm fucking with the bootloader I'll do risky updates because I can always just boot a previous generation

Not everyone has that luxury though

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Two things to change if you switch from Ubuntu to Debian:

  1. Add the systray icon extension from Ubuntu.
  2. Don't, please don't, forget to turn off auto updates
[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 day ago (2 children)

What is wrong with your system that requires disabeling updates?
Been running debian stable on a few hundred servers for 25 ish years.
And I always install and enable unattended upgrades. And it have never been a problem. Not even once.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 12 hours ago

I am capable of running updates myself and I'd rather choose when they happen

Also, Nvidia

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

When you boot up for a meeting and have to wait 10 minutes for updates to finish. Too much like Windows.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

I used to update my laptop in class because my school's WiFi was so much faster than my home internet.

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[–] ICastFist 3 points 19 hours ago

You might be interested in reading the Unix Haters Handbook. I mean, that the command to install a backport so easily allowed you to remove core packages without a... Better warning, is an old complaint

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 day ago

This guy doesnt use tabs

[–] [email protected] 35 points 1 day ago

When you do a dist-upgrade on anything but the stable main repos, you're on your own.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 20 hours ago

Been there.

[–] [email protected] 89 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Good person! This is how you learn Linux and gain experience. Trying to understand why something happened and trying to fix it using that understanding. Not "just reinstall" or worse "you should use X distro instead."

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

This doesn't feel like something that should happen. Like at all. I don't want experience repairing stuff. I want stuff not breaking. I know mos tpeople here treat a OS like a hobby, but for most people its a tool.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

And for the full Linux experience do it at the perfect moment, such as when you're in a lecture or customer presentation!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago

Bystanders in fearful respect

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 day ago

Congratulations 🎉 Nice work figuring it out.

Gotta love the idea that when you uninstall a package all the packages that depend on it must be removed for consistency.

Out of curiosity, what were you looking to gain from the pipewire upgrade?

[–] [email protected] 42 points 1 day ago (2 children)

As long as you can log into a shell and get root permissions, everything's fine.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

On nixos i managed to uninstall nix (package manager), remove my user account, git, ls, WiFi drivers and basically everything else

I can't remember how I rescued it now but managed to get it back without a reinstall

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I can't remember how I rescued it now but managed to get it back without a reinstall

You could've booted into a previous generation where you still had all those things on your system. The glory of atomic distros :)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 12 hours ago

I could have done that had I not deleted all previous generations in an attempt to make space for the update

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago

I really wonder how you managed to uninstall nix. Editing configuration.nix shouldn't even allow for removing .nix...

Anyway, this post made me remember why I used btrfs for my new btrfs system.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago

as long as you have access to the boot drive everything's fine, just varying degrees of painful to rectify.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago

At least you got to multi-user.target. I've done worse to my arch system that needed an entire chroot reinstall

[–] [email protected] 47 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This has some "yes do as I say" vibes

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 hours ago

A Linus moment (the other Linus)

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 day ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

There's something very appropriate about you using all those (system) tools during an anthropology lecture.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 day ago

kinda love how you used gnome with macbook it fits soo well

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 day ago

That's why it's a good idea to take a btrfs snapshot before updating or changing things. Snapshots are almost instant and sure save a lot of work if you break something.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 day ago

Nala brings dnf-style history and undo to Debian and Ubuntu. Highly recommend.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago

I feel you. I once was messing around with python and realized I had too many python versions installed for no reason, so I uninstalled them all to install a single one.

Oh the pain.

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