Getting descriptions of the yum-able packages...

[Clinton MacDonald]

Mr. Denholm:

Douglas Denholm wrote:
> Now I have some idea of what *some* of them are for but there are dozens 
> (and dozens!) where I have no idea what they are for. And the folks 
> developing these packages seem to enjoy coming up with names that have 
> no discernable connection to what their purpose ;).

Isn't that the truth! (Take "yum," for example -- doesn't that just 
scream "update and installation utility"? NOT!)

> Is there some place where I can find descriptions of all these packages?

The traditional method is to examine the list and Google for 
likely-looking package names. That works about 50% of the time. For the 
other 50%, that's what this mailing list is for. :-)

However, there is a lovely alternative to yum for installing packages. 
Install the "apt-get" package management system, then install the 
Synaptic graphical front end:

<http://rpmfind.net/linux/RPM/freshrpms/ayo/yellowdog/3.0/ppc/RPMS.freshrpms/synaptic-0.42-1.fr.ppc.html>

See a previous post by Glenn Greenfield for more explanation:

<http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/pipermail/yellowdog-newbie/2003-September/004559.html>

Synaptic has a very nice GUI, includes a search utility, and gives 
useful descriptions of all listed packages. I prefer it to yum for all 
but the most basic updates.

Best wishes,
Clint

-- 
Dr. Clinton C. MacDonald | <mailto:clint DOT macdonald AT sbcglobal DOT net>