apt script

[Roin]

hm... not sure if thast the right section to post this but I think this is pretty important (so please move it to the correct location if it isnt correct instead of deleting it xD)

Ok the apt script that comes with Mint has a seriouse problem: when the description of a package is to long it simply cuts the description or if I see that correct it simply goes over the Terminal borders and so you can see everything of the description.



http://imagebin.org/54516

Ok maybe this isnt to seriouse but I would like to see this fixed (if thats possible).
And now a suggestion: when you install software with the apt script it would be nice if you would see all packages that will be installed in a nice table (of course table in termns of the terminal) like yum on CentOS and Fedora is doing it. It gives a much better overview over the package sthat will be installed and simply looks better,

Another suggestion would be that when the search results are shown, the words I used in my search are also highligzted. so for the example on the Screenshot hex and editor should be bold or something like that.

Greets,
Roin

[DrHu]

Ok the apt script that comes with Mint has a seriouse problem: when the description of a package is to long it simply cuts the description

even if you change the font, maximize the terminal or set it to a widescreen mode ?

Surely; You mean apt, the name it is known by..
I venture that most users of this distribution and most Linux users in general will be looking at the package managers as their application install method of choice
--so not a serious issue at all

[Roin]

Ok the apt script that comes with Mint has a seriouse problem: when the description of a package is to long it simply cuts the description

even if you change the font, maximize the terminal or set it to a widescreen mode ?

Surely; You mean apt, the name it is known by..
I venture that most users of this distribution and most Linux users in general will be looking at the package managers as their application install method of choice
--so not a serious issue at all

--_--

Well as you migth saw (if you read my post to the end) I've added that it might not be to serious, BUT yes when I maximize the terminal after running a search with the apt script it doesnt show a longer description and if you followed the Link to the image you might saw that the window is already at its maximum size.

I said that it might be not to seriouse and this is the suggestions part of the forum... this is a suggestion and the apt script is afaik directly mint related (while Synaptic is Ubuntu stuff). So I really thought it would be a good idea to add some stuff that could be improved on this script so mint looks not only polished in the GUI but also in the terminal.

Greets,
Roin

[lagagnon]

this is a suggestion and the apt script is afaik directly mint related (while Synaptic is Ubuntu stuff).

Wrong. "apt" is the command-line based Debian packaging system tool. It is provided with every distribution that uses Debian packages.

So I really thought it would be a good idea to add some stuff that could be improved on this script so mint looks not only polished in the GUI but also in the terminal.

That is up to you, not Mint nor the folks that write apt. apt runs in a terminal, thus if you want to see the entire output you either have to adjust the size of your terminal or the size of your terminal font. The same thing applies to any other terminal command with wide output (such as top, ps, pstree and many others).

[Roin]

I think you understand me wrong, I'm not referring to the apt package manager, but to the apt script which comes with Mint.
do: cat `which apt`

I just wanted to point out that the formating of the output should be better applied to the common size of a terminal (if thats possible).
And IMHO the terminal belongs to any Linux Desktop.
Greets,
Roin

[lagagnon]

Roin: I did not misunderstand you. I know what you are talking about which is /usr/local/bin/apt which is exactly what I said it was - the Debian apt tool. My post still stands as is. There are no common terminals in Linux, various distros use gnome-terminal, konsole, xterm, aterm, mrxvt,etc, etc and they are all set up differenlty, with different window sizes and fonts. The folks that write apt cannot be expected to fit their console output into each terminal. It is up to the user to fix/adjust his/her terminal appropriately for the standard output given.

[DrHu]

I just wanted to point out that the formating of the output should be better applied to the common size of a terminal (if thats possible)

should be better applied to the common size of a terminal (if thats possible)
Which is the common size, I think that might depend on your monitor resolution or your preferences..
--and yes, anything will be possible with enough programming effort, but is it worth it?

..probably based on the history of computers..
Well I am sure it is possible, its just never been done that way in all Operating Systems that have a terminal
(console) interface
--it might be historical, Hollerith punched cards at 80 columns, consoles 25x80 columns as standard, based on the original serial consoles, when computers were not graphical

Now that computers are graphical, you can adjust the console settings more easily
http://tldp.org/LDP/lfs/LFS-BOOK-6.1.1- ... nsole.html
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Text-Terminal-HOWTO.html

• Fonts
  --try utf-8 and non fixed font
• Resolution
  --try different screen resolutions hz x vertical screen sizes

For the technocrat only..
http://linux.about.com/library/cmd/blcmdl5_termcap.htm
http://linux.about.com/library/cmd/blcmdl5_terminfo.htm

I also agree that apt is the name by which that package manager is known in the Debian world, whether or not it runs a script
--you will find many applications within Linux, Gnome or Kde which actually run a script: behind the scenes, but calling it that (a script) will likely only confuse new users who want to just know which command do I run ??

[emorrp1]

Roin, you are correct, /usr/local/bin/apt is provided by mint, and has recently been upgraded (e.g. to include your highlighting suggestion) as shown on the blog. Since I can no longer see your screenshot, which apt command did you use that caused the problem? Is it still causing a problem with the latest version of the script? I can't seem to reproduce your problem at all, the description is line-wrapped in my terminal.

lagagnon: the debian apt tools are in /usr/bin/apt*

[clem]

Code: Select all

apt contains /usr/local/bin/apt

I can confirm the bug. Open a terminal, maximize it, type the following:

Code: Select all

apt search firefox

compare with:

Code: Select all

aptitude search firefox

Philip, can you make a bug out of that on the Bug section or in Launchpad? I'll try to fix it tomorrow.

Clem.

[clem]

Actually, it's not an apt bug... it's to do with pipe... the problem can be seen like that as well:

Code: Select all

aptitude search firefox | grep firefox

apt uses a pipe to send the output to highlight... I guess it could do without the pipe and highlight things itself... so it's not our bug, but we can probably come with a workaround.

Clem

[emorrp1]

reported: viewtopic.php?f=165&t=29162

[Roin]

wow, thanks ofr the replies, well I've seen the new Version with the highligh and stuff and its cool .

It is nice that you guys try to workaround that, thank you very much

Greets,
Roin