Description: Debian Package Search is a GUI for searching packages and showing package information. It is aimed to help you find the packages you need. It should make the task of searching a pleasant experience.
Search can be done by * full text in package descriptions/names * tags (based on the debtags system, a new way of categorizing Debian packages) * files * installed status * orphaned packages
Additionally a lot of information about the packages is displayed, including the files belonging to them.
It is also possible to install or remove packages.
Debian Package Search is part of the Debian distribution, so you can install it simply by running apt-get install packagesearch. It is listed here only to increase awareness for it. The source can be downloaded from the SourceForge page or retrieved via "apt-get source packagesearch".
As its name suggest, it is useful for Debian or other apt-based distributions only.Last changelog:
------- released version 2.7.3 ------ - disabled C++0x support to avoid crashes when linking against libept (it seems they do not cooperate (crash) when compiled with different c++0x support settings) - fix to show the correct long description (Closes: #676812) -> directly use libapt-pkg now 2012-06-28 ------- released version 2.7.2 ------ - changed RunCommandInXterm to use /usr/bin/uxterm, because only there I can guarantee consistent behaviour (Closes: #676811) 2012-06-12 - make APT default installation tool - inform user to configure to use apt if aptitude is not available (Closes: #676810) 2012-06-11 - fixed displaying file list (multiarch support) 2012-06-10 ------- released version 2.7.1 ------ - fixed COPYRIGHT file to make lintian happy - changed build infrastructure to use "dh" 2012-05-20 ------- released version 2.7 (never officially) ------ - enabled hardening options 2012-05-19 - fixed problem qith QT 4.8: virtual base classes make QT break -> Plugin no longer inherits from QObject, instead each child plugin must inherit from QObject on its own 2012-05-13 - updated help page - updated spanish translation (thanks Frannoe!) 2012-05-12 - fixed bug disallowing translations to translate column title for "Name" or "Score" 2012-01-29 - proxy server settings are now saved 2012-01-18 - added support for configuring proxy server (still no yet saved) 2011-09-07 - Fixed compiler error caused by xapian having a slots member variable (Closes: #639076) - added support for displaying the "Homepage" field (Closes: #598193) 2010-10-07 - completed support for displaying screenshots 2010-08-07 - fixed filtering of Tag-list based on search pattern 2010-08-03 - fixed full text search for excluding patterns 2010-07-18 ------- released version 2.6 ------ - searching for similar packages is now based on full text description - switched to apt-xapian search backend 2010-03-XX - added dependency to libdl (Closes: #555881) 2010-02-28
...it would be even nicer if it could install packages. Now you need to search and then return to a console and type "apt-get install packagename", which is somewhat less convenient. Most people use either CLI or GUI, and they don't like jumping back and forth.
Other than that, the program is great - easy to use and powerful. Keep up your work!
Well usally integrating two programs is not easy. Each follows a different class design, has another UI layout and perhaps most important a different main developer who put a lot of effort into the application...
You can reuse some ideas, algorithms and classes, but I think seldom there comes a large benefit from merging two programs. Mostly it comes down to dropping one application, in favour for the other and reimplementing some of its features.
Additionally packagesearch is a QT only program, and I'm trying to keep it like this.
Best regards Ben
Hm, do you have the testing or stable version (they are pretty ancient already...)? The unstable version now offers the often requested feature of allowing to (un)install packages. Though it does this in a rather crude way using an xterm.
Best regards
Ben
Ratings & Comments
8 Comments
any chance for sources?..:)
Sure. You have the option to visit the Sourceforge (SF) site for a source tarball release (https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=106496), pull the source from SF SVN or execute "apt-get source packagesearch" (Debian).
...it would be even nicer if it could install packages. Now you need to search and then return to a console and type "apt-get install packagename", which is somewhat less convenient. Most people use either CLI or GUI, and they don't like jumping back and forth. Other than that, the program is great - easy to use and powerful. Keep up your work!
well, imho it should be integrated with kynaptic and the like...
Well usally integrating two programs is not easy. Each follows a different class design, has another UI layout and perhaps most important a different main developer who put a lot of effort into the application... You can reuse some ideas, algorithms and classes, but I think seldom there comes a large benefit from merging two programs. Mostly it comes down to dropping one application, in favour for the other and reimplementing some of its features. Additionally packagesearch is a QT only program, and I'm trying to keep it like this. Best regards Ben
I do understand that, and i'd rather see this integrated using kpart-like technologie, instead of really merging with kynaptic and the like.
Hm, do you have the testing or stable version (they are pretty ancient already...)? The unstable version now offers the often requested feature of allowing to (un)install packages. Though it does this in a rather crude way using an xterm. Best regards Ben
Good to mention it here, too. Thanx.