How To Get a pure CINNAMON LMDE desktop?

[Uncle Spellbinder]

I ran accros this (regarding Mint 12): Remove MATE from Linux Mint 12

Does anyone know exactly what the process would be to completely eliminate MATE and retain a pure LMDE Cinnamon desktop?

[Bonsaii]

Did you try removing Mate?

I'm very happy with Cinnamon and could do without Mate.
Actually, I am hoping for some improvements too.

My idea was to remove Mate via Software Manager,
more or less piece-by-piece, and watch for breakages.

[squeezy]

Personally, I'd build it up from scratch starting with a Debian Squeeze netinstall, swap in Mint sources and preference file and dist-update it. Then install Cinnamon and the other Mint software you want. Nice setup customixed for your needs.

[Bonsaii]

Thanks, squeezy,

A fresh install means moving all data, home directory, etc.
I am happy to have a(n almost bug free) working LMDE 64bit,
Cinnamon system.

[squeezy]

You've got a backup you can restore that data from, don't you?

Nothing like a fresh installation to start things off right,

[Bonsaii]

Yeah, doing fresh installs, that's why I use a rolling distro.

Today I removed mate-desktop via Software Manager.
That also removed a couple of other packages like
mate-desktop-environment, mate-core, mate-panel,
mate-applets, mate-session-manager, mate-control-center,
mate-screensaver.

Many applications and libraries remained.

So far, all is fine.

[squeezy]

Just messin' with ya

Install a package called upgrade-system, it's in the repos. It will wipe out all unused libraries on your system. It does a great job at cleaning up a system. When you delete applications, if autoremove doesn't take care of the leftover dependencies, upgrade-system will for sure. I use it all the time.

It runs from the terminal:

Code: Select all

sudo upgrade-system

You'd be surprised at what it removes even from a freshly installed system. The first time you run it you will clean up a ton of stuff.

[roger64]

For the time being I keep MATE and Cinnamon but I am interested in this thread.

Cleaning programs

There is bleachbit which does a lot of cleaning and did not, up to now, damage anything for me (root and user versions).

I remember computer janitor on Ubuntu which, on the contrary, wanted to cut not only your ears, but your head. Terrible thing which has been dropped now I think.

I do not know upgrade-system. I hope it provides the user which some information before on what it intends to do?

[cecar]

Just messin' with ya

Install a package called upgrade-system, it's in the repos. It will wipe out all unused libraries on your system. It does a great job at cleaning up a system. When you delete applications, if autoremove doesn't take care of the leftover dependencies, upgrade-system will for sure. I use it all the time.

It runs from the terminal:

Code: Select all

sudo upgrade-system

You'd be surprised at what it removes even from a freshly installed system. The first time you run it you will clean up a ton of stuff.

To me it seems like it wants to take away to much? A lot of fonts and my Spotify client. Im not going to use that.

Code: Select all

cecar@mintdebian ~ $ sudo upgrade-system
[sudo] password for cecar:
1) Updating package lists.
2) Upgrading packages:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
3) Checking for orphan packages:
I: Purging orphan packages...
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  bogofilter* dhcp3-client* dhcp3-common* foomatic-filters-ppds*
  gnome-session-common* gs* gs-common* libapache2-mod-dnssd* libartsc0*
  libaudiofile0* libavahi-ui0* libavahi1.0-cil* libavutil49* libbeagle1*
  libbind9-60* libbluray0* libboo2.0.9-cil* libboost-iostreams1.42.0*
  libbrasero-media3-1* libclutter-gtk-0.10-0* libcolorblind0* libcryptsetup1*
  libcryptui0a* libdb4.7* libdevkit-power-gobject1* libdns64* libdpkg-ruby1.8*
  libdvbpsi6* libedata-book1.2-2* libedata-book1.2-8* libedata-cal1.2-10*
  libedata-cal1.2-7* libedataserverui1.2-11* libedataserverui1.2-8*
  libeggdbus-1-0* libegroupwise1.2-13* libertas-firmware* libevent-1.4-2*
  libevent-2.0-5* libevince2* libflickrnet2.2-cil* libfolks-telepathy25*
  libgadu3* libgail-gnome-module* libgalago3* libgconfmm-2.6-1c2* libgcr0*
  libgdata-google1.2-1* libgdata1.9-cil* libgdu-gtk0* libgettext-ruby1.8*
  libgirepository1.0-0* libgl1-mesa-dev* libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental*
  libglademm-2.4-1c2a* libglew1.5* libgnome-bluetooth7* libgnome-mag2*
  libgnome-media0* libgnome-speech7* libgnome-window-settings1* libgnomekbd4*
  libgnomepanel2.24-cil* libgp11-0* libgraphite3* libgs8* libgsf-1-114*
  libgtkhtml-editor-3.14-0* libgtkhtml-editor-4.0-0* libgtkmm-3.0-1*
  libgucharmap7* libgweather1* libhttpclient-ruby1.8* libhunspell-1.2-0*
  libicu42* libid3tag0* libimobiledevice1* libiptcdata0* libisccfg60*
  libkarma0* liblockfile1* liblouis-data* liblwres60* libmagickwand3*
  libmatroska0* libmatroska3* libmatroska4* libminiupnpc5* libmjpegtools-1.9*
  libmodplug0c2* libmono-cairo2.0-cil* libmono-simd2.0-cil* libmpfr1ldbl*
  libmtp8* libnatpmp1* libndesk-dbus-glib1.0-cil* libnfsidmap2* libnice0*
  libnl1* libnm-glib2* libntfs-3g804* libntfs10* liboil0.3* liboobs-1-4*
  libpango1.0-common* libpolkit-gtk-1-0* libpostproc51* libpython2.6*
  libquvi0* librasqal2* libseed0* libsilc-1.1-2* libsilcclient-1.1-3*
  libslab0a* libsoundtouch1c2* libsqlite0* libstdc++5*
  libtracker-client-0.8-0* libunique-3.0-0* libwpg-0.1-1* libwps-0.1-1*
  libx264-98* libxapian15* libxcb-atom1* libxcb-aux0* libxcb-event1*
  libxcb-render-util0* libxml-parser-ruby1.8* libyajl1* min12xxw*
  mint-meta-common* myspell-sv-se* pnm2ppa* python-brlapi* python-bugbuddy*
  python-cupsutils* python-decorator* python-egenix-mxdatetime*
  python-evolution* python-geoip* python-gmenu* python-gnomeapplet*
  python-gnomedesktop* python-gst0.10* python-gtkspell* python-mako*
  python-nevow* python-oauth* python-parted* python-rdflib* python-simplejson*
  spotify-client-qt* transmission-common* ttf-bengali-fonts*
  ttf-gujarati-fonts* ttf-punjabi-fonts* ttf-tamil-fonts* ttf-telugu-fonts*
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 158 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
After this operation, 118 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]?


[Bonsaii]

Removing Mate via Software Manager worked.
Removing obsolete files via Synaptic thereafter worked too.

'sudo upgrade-system' wants to remove:

Code: Select all

cli-common* dhcp3-client* dhcp3-common* foomatic-filters-ppds* fuse-utils*
  gnome-desktop-data* gnome-session-common* gs* gs-common* gstreamer0.10-alsa*
  libapache2-mod-dnssd* libartsc0* libaudiofile0* libavahi-gobject0*
  libavahi-ui0* libavformat52* libavutil49* libbind9-60* libbluray0*
  libboost-iostreams1.42.0* libclutter-gtk-0.10-0* libcolorblind0*
  libcryptsetup1* libcryptui0a* libdb4.7* libdpkg-ruby1.8* libdvbpsi6*
  libedata-book1.2-2* libedata-book1.2-8* libedata-cal1.2-10*
  libedata-cal1.2-7* libedataserverui1.2-11* libedataserverui1.2-8*
  libeggdbus-1-0* libegroupwise1.2-13* libertas-firmware* libevent-1.4-2*
  libevince2* libfolks-telepathy25* libgadu3* libgail-gnome-module*
  libgalago3* libgcr0* libgdata-google1.2-1* libgdiplus* libgdu-gtk0*
  libgettext-ruby1.8* libgirepository1.0-0* libgl1-mesa-dev*
  libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental* libgladeui-1-9* libglew1.5* libgmime-2.4-2*
  libgnome-bluetooth7* libgnome-mag2* libgnome-media0* libgnome-speech7*
  libgnome-window-settings1* libgnomekbd4* libgnutls-openssl27* libgp11-0*
  libgraphite3* libgs8* libgsf-1-114* libgtkhtml-editor-3.14-0* libgucharmap7*
  libgweather1* libhttpclient-ruby1.8* libhunspell-1.2-0* libid3tag0*
  libimobiledevice1* libiptcdata0* libisccfg60* libkarma0* liblockfile1*
  liblouis-data* liblwres60* libmagickwand3* libmatroska0* libmatroska3*
  libmatroska4* libmjpegtools-1.9* libmjpegtools-2.0-0* libmtp8* libnfsidmap2*
  libnice0* libnl1* libnm-glib2* libntfs-3g804* libntfs10* libntlm0*
  liboil0.3* liboobs-1-4* liboobs-1-5* libpango1.0-common* libpolkit-gtk-1-0*
  libpostproc51* libpython2.6* libquvi0* librasqal2* libseed0* libsilc-1.1-2*
  libsilcclient-1.1-3* libslab0a* libsoundtouch1c2* libsqlite0*
  libtracker-client-0.8-0* libunique-1.0-0* libunique-3.0-0* libwpg-0.1-1*
  libwps-0.1-1* libx264-98* libxcb-atom1* libxcb-aux0* libxcb-event1*
  libxcb-render-util0* libxml-parser-ruby1.8* libyajl1* min12xxw*
  mint-meta-common* pnm2ppa* python-alsaaudio* python-brlapi* python-bugbuddy*
  python-decorator* python-egenix-mxdatetime* python-evolution* python-gdata*
  python-geoip* python-gmenu* python-gnomeapplet* python-gnomedesktop*
  python-gst0.10* python-gtksourceview2* python-mako* python-nevow*
  python-oauth* python-parted* python-pyalsa* python-rdflib*
  python-simplejson* python-wnck* ttf-bengali-fonts* ttf-gujarati-fonts*
  ttf-punjabi-fonts* ttf-tamil-fonts* ttf-telugu-fonts*

squeezy, are you sure, that won't break it?

[squeezy]

To me it seems like it wants to take away to much? A lot of fonts and my Spotify client. Im not going to use that.

Code: Select all

cecar@mintdebian ~ $ sudo upgrade-system
[sudo] password for cecar:
1) Updating package lists.
2) Upgrading packages:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
3) Checking for orphan packages:
I: Purging orphan packages...
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  bogofilter* dhcp3-client* dhcp3-common* foomatic-filters-ppds*
  gnome-session-common* gs* gs-common* libapache2-mod-dnssd* libartsc0*
  libaudiofile0* libavahi-ui0* libavahi1.0-cil* libavutil49* libbeagle1*
  libbind9-60* libbluray0* libboo2.0.9-cil* libboost-iostreams1.42.0*
  libbrasero-media3-1* libclutter-gtk-0.10-0* libcolorblind0* libcryptsetup1*
  libcryptui0a* libdb4.7* libdevkit-power-gobject1* libdns64* libdpkg-ruby1.8*
  libdvbpsi6* libedata-book1.2-2* libedata-book1.2-8* libedata-cal1.2-10*
  libedata-cal1.2-7* libedataserverui1.2-11* libedataserverui1.2-8*
  libeggdbus-1-0* libegroupwise1.2-13* libertas-firmware* libevent-1.4-2*
  libevent-2.0-5* libevince2* libflickrnet2.2-cil* libfolks-telepathy25*
  libgadu3* libgail-gnome-module* libgalago3* libgconfmm-2.6-1c2* libgcr0*
  libgdata-google1.2-1* libgdata1.9-cil* libgdu-gtk0* libgettext-ruby1.8*
  libgirepository1.0-0* libgl1-mesa-dev* libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental*
  libglademm-2.4-1c2a* libglew1.5* libgnome-bluetooth7* libgnome-mag2*
  libgnome-media0* libgnome-speech7* libgnome-window-settings1* libgnomekbd4*
  libgnomepanel2.24-cil* libgp11-0* libgraphite3* libgs8* libgsf-1-114*
  libgtkhtml-editor-3.14-0* libgtkhtml-editor-4.0-0* libgtkmm-3.0-1*
  libgucharmap7* libgweather1* libhttpclient-ruby1.8* libhunspell-1.2-0*
  libicu42* libid3tag0* libimobiledevice1* libiptcdata0* libisccfg60*
  libkarma0* liblockfile1* liblouis-data* liblwres60* libmagickwand3*
  libmatroska0* libmatroska3* libmatroska4* libminiupnpc5* libmjpegtools-1.9*
  libmodplug0c2* libmono-cairo2.0-cil* libmono-simd2.0-cil* libmpfr1ldbl*
  libmtp8* libnatpmp1* libndesk-dbus-glib1.0-cil* libnfsidmap2* libnice0*
  libnl1* libnm-glib2* libntfs-3g804* libntfs10* liboil0.3* liboobs-1-4*
  libpango1.0-common* libpolkit-gtk-1-0* libpostproc51* libpython2.6*
  libquvi0* librasqal2* libseed0* libsilc-1.1-2* libsilcclient-1.1-3*
  libslab0a* libsoundtouch1c2* libsqlite0* libstdc++5*
  libtracker-client-0.8-0* libunique-3.0-0* libwpg-0.1-1* libwps-0.1-1*
  libx264-98* libxapian15* libxcb-atom1* libxcb-aux0* libxcb-event1*
  libxcb-render-util0* libxml-parser-ruby1.8* libyajl1* min12xxw*
  mint-meta-common* myspell-sv-se* pnm2ppa* python-brlapi* python-bugbuddy*
  python-cupsutils* python-decorator* python-egenix-mxdatetime*
  python-evolution* python-geoip* python-gmenu* python-gnomeapplet*
  python-gnomedesktop* python-gst0.10* python-gtkspell* python-mako*
  python-nevow* python-oauth* python-parted* python-rdflib* python-simplejson*
  spotify-client-qt* transmission-common* ttf-bengali-fonts*
  ttf-gujarati-fonts* ttf-punjabi-fonts* ttf-tamil-fonts* ttf-telugu-fonts*
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 158 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
After this operation, 118 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]?


Do you actually use those fonts? They may have been installed by an application that's since been removed. That's what orphaned dependencies are.

As for the Spotify listing, that's a deprecated package. You won't lose your Spotify client. Here is the description from the spotify-client-qt package:

This transitional package is provided for a smooth transition from the previous
spotify-client-qt package. It may safely be removed after installation.

Of course it's up to you to use or not use the cleanup app. All I can say is that I've used it on over 20 installations and it's never broken anything yet.

One other thing about upgrade-system, you notice the steps it goes through? You're checking for updates every time you run this, too.

Step 1 is apt-get update
Step 2 is apt-get dist-upgrade
Step 3 begins the orphan process.

Easy way to keep your system updated. And if an update makes certain packages redundant, it cleans them up.

[squeezy]

Removing Mate via Software Manager worked.
Removing obsolete files via Synaptic thereafter worked too.

'sudo upgrade-system' wants to remove:

Code: Select all

cli-common* dhcp3-client* dhcp3-common* foomatic-filters-ppds* fuse-utils*
  gnome-desktop-data* gnome-session-common* gs* gs-common* gstreamer0.10-alsa*
  libapache2-mod-dnssd* libartsc0* libaudiofile0* libavahi-gobject0*
  libavahi-ui0* libavformat52* libavutil49* libbind9-60* libbluray0*
  libboost-iostreams1.42.0* libclutter-gtk-0.10-0* libcolorblind0*
  libcryptsetup1* libcryptui0a* libdb4.7* libdpkg-ruby1.8* libdvbpsi6*
  libedata-book1.2-2* libedata-book1.2-8* libedata-cal1.2-10*
  libedata-cal1.2-7* libedataserverui1.2-11* libedataserverui1.2-8*
  libeggdbus-1-0* libegroupwise1.2-13* libertas-firmware* libevent-1.4-2*
  libevince2* libfolks-telepathy25* libgadu3* libgail-gnome-module*
  libgalago3* libgcr0* libgdata-google1.2-1* libgdiplus* libgdu-gtk0*
  libgettext-ruby1.8* libgirepository1.0-0* libgl1-mesa-dev*
  libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental* libgladeui-1-9* libglew1.5* libgmime-2.4-2*
  libgnome-bluetooth7* libgnome-mag2* libgnome-media0* libgnome-speech7*
  libgnome-window-settings1* libgnomekbd4* libgnutls-openssl27* libgp11-0*
  libgraphite3* libgs8* libgsf-1-114* libgtkhtml-editor-3.14-0* libgucharmap7*
  libgweather1* libhttpclient-ruby1.8* libhunspell-1.2-0* libid3tag0*
  libimobiledevice1* libiptcdata0* libisccfg60* libkarma0* liblockfile1*
  liblouis-data* liblwres60* libmagickwand3* libmatroska0* libmatroska3*
  libmatroska4* libmjpegtools-1.9* libmjpegtools-2.0-0* libmtp8* libnfsidmap2*
  libnice0* libnl1* libnm-glib2* libntfs-3g804* libntfs10* libntlm0*
  liboil0.3* liboobs-1-4* liboobs-1-5* libpango1.0-common* libpolkit-gtk-1-0*
  libpostproc51* libpython2.6* libquvi0* librasqal2* libseed0* libsilc-1.1-2*
  libsilcclient-1.1-3* libslab0a* libsoundtouch1c2* libsqlite0*
  libtracker-client-0.8-0* libunique-1.0-0* libunique-3.0-0* libwpg-0.1-1*
  libwps-0.1-1* libx264-98* libxcb-atom1* libxcb-aux0* libxcb-event1*
  libxcb-render-util0* libxml-parser-ruby1.8* libyajl1* min12xxw*
  mint-meta-common* pnm2ppa* python-alsaaudio* python-brlapi* python-bugbuddy*
  python-decorator* python-egenix-mxdatetime* python-evolution* python-gdata*
  python-geoip* python-gmenu* python-gnomeapplet* python-gnomedesktop*
  python-gst0.10* python-gtksourceview2* python-mako* python-nevow*
  python-oauth* python-parted* python-pyalsa* python-rdflib*
  python-simplejson* python-wnck* ttf-bengali-fonts* ttf-gujarati-fonts*
  ttf-punjabi-fonts* ttf-tamil-fonts* ttf-telugu-fonts*

squeezy, are you sure, that won't break it?

That looks like a pretty typical list for a first run. It's much like cecar's above. See a common thread forming? You both removed MATE and look at the package list that wants to be cleaned up, nearly identical.

Oh, one more thing to mention. Often removing one package makes another package orphaned. Removing those initial orphans will result in more orphans being found. upgrade-system loops through the orphan process until it can't find any more to purge. Don't be surprised if it finds another 20-30 on the second pass, 10 more on the third, etc, etc.

As I said to cecar, it's up to you if you want to run this or not.

[Bonsaii]

Thanks!

It worked nicely so far and yes, the first run purged ~40 packages,
the second run ~25, then ~10, then 3, then 2, done.

I did not experience any breakages, yet.

Thanks for the lesson!

(LMDE / Cinnamon and the community are great)

[squeezy]

Glad to hear it's working

I just had it work for me again here. I set up a new install today (pure MATE on an Ubuntu Precise command line install) and just setup my printer. I installed the package cups-driver-gutenprint since I know gutenprint supports my printer. Afterwards I ran upgrade-system and got a few updates installed (nice!) and several packages removed, including cups-driver-gutenprint. I paniced a moment, thinking of you guys, then looked up the package in Synaptic. Turns out I hadn't noticed that package is a transitional package that installs the renamed version...printer-driver-gutenprint (which is still installed).

[roger64]

Once I had saved using Clonezilla, I tried upgrade-system on LMDE64 (MATE and Cinnamon still alive): works very well, though in successive steps as told. No side-effect.

Thanks for the tip.

[squeezy]

Another brother in the fold