MX Linux Forum

@ MX-devs

The dist-upgrade process often requires a separate apt autoremove
operation to reclaim some space formerly occupied by outdated material.

Couldn't this separate operation just as well be included as a final step
in the normal dist-upgrade process and not be left as a separate step?

TIA & thanks for this outstanding distro.

You can add it as an option in the MX updater.

Since this command can also destroy a system if a beginner starts messing with metapackages, as it has so many times in the past, I would not add it as an automatic option. People have said, "sure, remove 800 packages? Seems legit" way, way, too many times in the past.

we have thought about that in the past. however, a badly packaged deb, or one from an outside repo with conflicting dependency information, can create package conflicts that apt-get has interesting solutions for. like removing all your desktop environment for instance. if we did the autoremove automatically, it could be disastrous, even if we had a confirmation prompt and the user wan't paying real close attention.

better safe than sorry.

***ninja'd by stevo

Just to be clear, apt autoremove is not a required step, only an optional one.

With the size of disks currently in use, the relative amount of free space recovered is minimal, and it's something I have never bothered with.

Chris

You can also use aptitude to manage packages, which will autoremove by default. Luckily, it asks first before proceeding to nuke your system.

Thanks to all for your cautionary advice.

I know its a terrabyte world for most folks, but I'm exclusively 'live'.
My Cruzer world is at most only 16 Gb of which I usually use only a few Gb
for my LiveUSB. Happily so with MX. It's a delight. Still...

The mere thought of a few Kb going to no good use seems like something
to respond-to. And...

It does seem a little inconsistent to take all of the automatic, unchallenged
changes in any given dist-upgrade on faith that nothing bad might happen,
yet be hesitent about the suggestions on recouping some unused space after
all the magic of the upgrade has occurred.

I get it. I'll not automatically autoremove.

TJH

TJ Hoye wrote:Thanks to all for your cautionary advice.
....

It does seem a little inconsistent to take all of the automatic, unchallenged
changes in any given dist-upgrade on faith that nothing bad might happen,
yet be hesitent about the suggestions on recouping some unused space after
all the magic of the upgrade has occurred.

I get it. I'll not automatically autoremove.

TJH

ah, but remember grasshopper, our default updater settings let you look at the updates before they are installed. this can also point out bizzare conflicts.

the options are there if you want to use them dude. autoremove just isn't the default.

I love that feature!

Stevo wrote: ↑Mon Mar 05, 2018 2:58 pm You can add it as an option in the MX updater.

Since this command can also destroy a system if a beginner starts messing with metapackages, as it has so many times in the past, I would not add it as an automatic option. People have said, "sure, remove 800 packages? Seems legit" way, way, too many times in the past.

I think the MX Linux update system is amazing, it is very efficient.

But I would like to know if it is possible to run the command "apt autoremove" without the need for me to type in the terminal, when updating the components, in the same way that it is done for updating.
If possible, where can I adjust this option?

link: https://imgur.com/OoHFSGc.png

I think the fact that the upgrader/updater so nonchalantly suggests to use sudo apt autoremove seems to imply that it not only is safe to use, but is expected to be used and is therefore a little misleading, unless of course you already know better.

IIWM, I’d reword it to reflect is potential consequences, or possibly remove it as a suggestion.

As a newbie, I was using it on MX and GalliumOS up until about a month ago when I saw cautionary comments about using it in the MX forum.
Again, I thought the forum and the updater were sending conflicting messages.

Just a thought, love the distro.