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PayPalAre you on Debian and keep missing packages or want some of the latest applications on top of your stable system? Say hello to the brand new Debian User Repository in the style of the Arch User Repository. It only got announced a couple of days ago so it's very fresh-faced and so there's not many packages yet, but it could end up being something revolutionary for Debian - perhaps anyway.
The creator, Hunter Wittenborn, mentioned how they initially started off developing makedeb, which makes Debian packages from Arch PKGBUILDs as they loved "Arch Linux's simple and efficient PKGBUILD format for creating packages". Another project, mpm, came later as a package manager for makedeb to make it even easier. So the Debian User Repository seems like the natural evolution of their ongoing work.
As an Arch Linux user myself (there's a joke there somewhere…) thanks to EndeavourOS making the setup easy I've found the Arch User Repository to often be an invaluable tool.
What do you think? Will you use it or contribute to it or do you not like the idea of it? Let us know in the comments.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
For a workstation it could be nice.
And remove some hassle when looking at ways to make your devices usable (yes I think of old Logitech product like G13 keyboard) by grabbing pieces of software here and there that are not even for Debian distros.
And remove some hassle when looking at ways to make your devices usable (yes I think of old Logitech product like G13 keyboard) by grabbing pieces of software here and there that are not even for Debian distros.
1 Likes, Who?
I'm torn. There's considerable potential for both good and bad.
It could allow an improved user experience where the regular repos fall short and Flatpak/Snap/AppImage isn't an option. But... there's no official Debian validation that the things in DUR are safe and benevolent. Security versus convenience?
The AUR is IMHO simultaneously the best and the worst part of Arch... will the DUR hold up to Debian standards? Can it?
It could allow an improved user experience where the regular repos fall short and Flatpak/Snap/AppImage isn't an option. But... there's no official Debian validation that the things in DUR are safe and benevolent. Security versus convenience?
The AUR is IMHO simultaneously the best and the worst part of Arch... will the DUR hold up to Debian standards? Can it?
8 Likes, Who?
Perkeleen_Vittupää Jun 28, 2021
What about the security aspect as some instances are pushing these "convenient" ways to install stuff? The authors of these packages cannot automatically be trusted and confirmed, so on. The software pulled from this "Arch style repo" are not sandboxed like snaps and flatpaks can be 
3 Likes, Who?
Philadelphus Jun 28, 2021
Interesting. I like Debian stable, but must admit the slow package update cycle is occasionally frustrating. I already use the debian-backports repository but that only has so many packages, and not usually less popular ones. I'll take a look at this.
2 Likes, Who?
That's cool! By the way, if anyone wants a newer KDE for Debian testing / unstable, check repos by Norbert Preining:
https://www.preining.info/blog/author/norbert/
https://www.preining.info/blog/author/norbert/
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: ShmerlThat's cool! By the way, if anyone wants a newer KDE for Debian testing / unstable, check repos by Norbert Preining:
https://www.preining.info/blog/author/norbert/
Yes but Norbert is a more than vetted source compared to the article. And it is thanks to him that Bullseye will deliver a fairly recent KDE environment.
2 Likes, Who?
This is super cool, I have always been missing the AUR in other distributions. Would be perfect if they also add something like pamac as well...
0 Likes
Woop woop, this looks great, hopefully someone packages replaysorcery, cause I tried to compile that sucker long ago and it was a mess. So if any packagers are listening, replaysorcery and depotdownloader would be useful =)
0 Likes
Quoting: Perkeleen_VittupääWhat about the security aspect as some instances are pushing these "convenient" ways to install stuff? The authors of these packages cannot automatically be trusted and confirmed, so on. The software pulled from this "Arch style repo" are not sandboxed like snaps and flatpaks can beYou can (and have to) manually read the PKGBUILD before installing.
1 Likes, Who?
heidi.wenger Jun 28, 2021
Quoting: axredneckQuoting: Perkeleen_VittupääWhat about the security aspect as some instances are pushing these "convenient" ways to install stuff? The authors of these packages cannot automatically be trusted and confirmed, so on. The software pulled from this "Arch style repo" are not sandboxed like snaps and flatpaks can beYou can (and have to) manually read the PKGBUILD before installing.
huh a normal user certainly does not read nothing. at least those mentioned ways of snaps and flatpacks are in sandbox so the carelessness does not matter!
1 Likes, Who?
slaapliedje Jun 28, 2021
Quoting: heidi.wengerNormal users probably shouldn't run Arch (yeah, I know that is a gatekeeper atitude, but it goes for any rolling release distribution, also Fedora. 😜)Quoting: axredneckQuoting: Perkeleen_VittupääWhat about the security aspect as some instances are pushing these "convenient" ways to install stuff? The authors of these packages cannot automatically be trusted and confirmed, so on. The software pulled from this "Arch style repo" are not sandboxed like snaps and flatpaks can beYou can (and have to) manually read the PKGBUILD before installing.
huh a normal user certainly does not read nothing. at least those mentioned ways of snaps and flatpacks are in sandbox so the carelessness does not matter!
One of the biggest problems with AUR is that most packages end up becoming orphaned as the person building it stops using Arch, or other reasons. And then due to the rolling nature, you end up with old PKGBUILDs that will no longer compile.
On the flip side, maybe we can get Librewolf in Debian!
1 Likes, Who?
I am an Arch user (Manjaro). I probably wouldn't use it if it wasn't for AUR. I don't know if I would switch to Debian anyway because I like a rolling release distribution, but it would be an interesting addition to Debian.
Innguy
Innguy
0 Likes
I'm using Debian testing which is semi-rolling and only wish the freeze period would be shorter and not like some half a year plus.
5 Likes, Who?
Hello Debian users. Have fun with one of the best Arch feature ;).
1 Likes, Who?
Main reason I don't use Debian a while are outdated Nvidia drivers because I need stable branch for some specific software. Could DUR be used also for installing graphic drivers?
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Liam said:
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 28 June 2021 at 7:01 pm UTC
QuoteAs an Arch Linux user myselfMaybe you should try taking things more seriously, then.
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 28 June 2021 at 7:01 pm UTC
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I do not really mind older software, but for newer kernels, drivers and mesa. Package-whise debian hardly misses anything.
So that's pretty much useless to me.
So that's pretty much useless to me.
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I'm not against the idea. Especially for project that can't be incorporated into Debian due to licensing, etc.
Given the number of 3rd part debian repos already out there, I'm not sure how well it'll be adopted, but I really like the idea of a unified 3rd party repo
Given the number of 3rd part debian repos already out there, I'm not sure how well it'll be adopted, but I really like the idea of a unified 3rd party repo
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