Apt-get :: Heeding the warning
From the DSL site:
"Now for the warning:
Damn Small is not derived purely from Debian, if you 'apt-get install' the wrong application you may break something, for instance, the X servers."
After burning and trying a bunch of distros, I'm really trying to whittle things down. DSL seems like a good fit for my needs (to be truthful, it's Luit Linux I'm considering, which is largely based on DSL), but the warning is giving me pause.
If we install dpkg are we good to go re apt-get? Are there any rules of thumb that we can use to help avoid breaking stuff (like, say, any pkg that involves the foo library/pkg avoid like the plague)? If we install something that does break something else, is it usually a great big pita to fix, or is it easy to roll it back somehow?
Any tips will be greatly appreciated. I think I'm close to settling in to a distro that will be the best compromise for me.
My experience has been that if you don't install any applications that require Gnome or KDE or are non graphical, you are safe.
For example, i installed synaptic as has been outlined in other messages on this board, as well as samba and swat. Other applications such as webmin will not install due to unresolved dependencies that cannot be resolved with apt.
If you don't -force an apt-get install, you should be ok!
Cappy
Do the dpkg retore first, then try and download synaptic.
It's a gui front end to apt-get and wil list the needed/missing dependencies before you try to download.
Loads of postings about it on the forum, so do a search.
Highly recomended.
man, i won't add to the (i'm sure) legions of posters who've made some pun on your nickname (i.e. wrt your not taking enough time for reflection), BUT...
i actually am already familiar with synaptic and i think it's a great tool. but i wasn't asking about tools that can help sort out dependencies.
i really wanted more explanation of the warning given on the dsl site. as a newbie it was waay cryptic to me and i needed to understand better what kind of dangers -- specifically -- i had to watch out for. cappycaffeine was on the right track for sure, but i find 'his' answer kinda scary, actually. any other opinions?
i DID search the forum and i found it thin wrt enlightening me re my question. when you say there are "Loads of postings about it," to what "IT" are you referring? synaptic or explanations of the warning?
are you saying, in effect, that if i restore dpkg and d/l synaptic then i'm good to go??
Ok ok enough already with the ad hominen 
(Synaptic was just for a gui warning of missing dependencies.........)
Check the docs page for a list of the apps included.
Remember a normal linux install usually needs 3 CDs so theres a hell of a lot left out starting with XFree86, kernal dependencies and all those gui front ends, programming languages & feeble games.
The bottom line is suck it & see. At 50mb you can afford the time to muck it up and reinstall.
FWIW my hd install is now about 450mbs. I'd rather build up than down 
I also looked at Luit but think feather linux is a better customisation of DSL as it's not so limited in size.
yours in haste
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