On Tue, 29 Jan 2019 at 22:36, Dirk Eddelbuettel <e...@debian.org> wrote:
> > Rolf, > > Briefly as I don't have sufficient time to catch up on all these wordy > emails... > > On 30 January 2019 at 15:18, Rolf Turner wrote: > | On 1/30/19 2:03 PM, Dirk Eddelbuettel wrote: > | > | Now *that* was a revealing suggestion! I did that and got: > | > | > | > | > Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold > | > | > | > Status=Not/Inst/Conf-files/Unpacked/halF-conf/Half-inst/trig-aWait/Trig-pend > | > | > |/ Err?=(none)/Reinst-required (Status,Err: uppercase=bad) > | > | > ||/ Name Version Architecture Description > | > | > > +++-================-=============-=============-====================================== > | > | > ii r-base-core 3.5.2-1bionic amd64 GNU R core of > statistical computation > | > | > | > | So indeed the installation had not actually been done. > | > > | > Why do you say that? That is the __normal__ display after a > successful installation. > | > | I interpreted the "Status=Not/Inst ...." to mean that the package was > | not installed. Which is consistent with what was actually the case. > > Simply false. Do 'dpkg -l | less' or 'dpkg -l somewildcardhere | less' and > try to become more familiar with the output. There *is* legend printed > there. > > What matters most: The first two columns are 'ii'. That is as official to > "you're good" as you'll ever get. > > Again, I would consider familiarising myself with some > Debian/Ubuntu/Mate/... > tutorials. It's not unlike becoming familiar with S/R terminology. It will > pay back. With dividends. > Roff -- you are right that the internet is full of misinformation. There are many clickbait sites preying on people like you having problems with linux. If you stick with official Debian documents you will avoid misinformation. The Debian Handbook <https://debian-handbook.info/get/now/> package is available from Ubuntu repositories as well as epub and PDF versions and has sections on dpkg and apt. Online forums where users can comment on the accuracy of posts are useful when you don't understand the sometimes terse explanations in the Debian documents, for instance, explanation of dpkg headers <https://askubuntu.com/questions/18804/what-do-the-various-dpkg-flags-like-ii-rc-mean> . It appears that the confused state of your system was due to installing from source to /usr, which affects r-base-core and also the "recommended" packages. The recovery from this state was confounded by your lack of familiarity with package management. Finally, it is important to recognize that much of the development of linux and R is done by volunteers who bring deep expertise and whose time is a precious resource. Since you aren't paying for Ubuntu and R it is only fair that you make an effort to learn the basics and eventually be in a position to help others. You do, however, get points for persistence. Many people in similar circumstances have given up on R and linux as impossibly complicated and unreliable. -- George N. White III [[alternative HTML version deleted]] _______________________________________________ R-SIG-Debian mailing list R-SIG-Debian@r-project.org https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-sig-debian