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Because of something I did during an anthropology lecture, I learned the hard way to read the "The following packages will be REMOVED" list when upgrading a package to backports in Debian GNU + Linux. (lemmy.ca)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I upgraded pipewire from stable to backports (I want to know ~~if this is related to my problem~~ why essential packages were removed)

Start-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:02
Commandline: apt install libpipewire-0.3-0/bookworm-backports
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Install: libpulsedsp:amd64 (16.1+dfsg1-2+b1, automatic), pulseaudio:amd64 (16.1+dfsg1-2+b1, automatic), pulseaudio-utils:amd64 (16.1+dfsg1-2+b1, automatic), libasound2-plugins:amd64 (1.2.7.1-1, automatic), policykit-1-gnome:amd64 (0.105-8, automatic), pulseaudio-module-bluetooth:amd64 (16.1+dfsg1-2+b1, automatic), libspeexdsp1:amd64 (1.2.1-1, automatic)
Upgrade: libspa-0.2-modules:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1, 1.2.3-1~bpo12+1), libpipewire-0.3-0:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1, 1.2.3-1~bpo12+1)
Remove: pipewire-pulse:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), pipewire-audio-client-libraries:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), t2-apple-audio-dsp-speakers161:amd64 (0.2.0-1), gnome:amd64 (1:43+1), gnome-remote-desktop:amd64 (43.3-1), pipewire:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), gnome-shell-extensions:amd64 (43.1-1), gnome-shell:amd64 (43.9-0+deb12u2), pipewire-tests:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), gdm3:amd64 (43.0-3), libspa-0.2-jack:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), libspa-0.2-bluetooth:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), pipewire-jack:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), gstreamer1.0-pipewire:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), t2-apple-audio-dsp-mic:amd64 (0.4.0-1), pipewire-audio:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), pipewire-bin:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), chrome-gnome-shell:amd64 (42.1-3), task-gnome-desktop:amd64 (3.73), gnome-session:amd64 (43.0-1+deb12u1), gnome-browser-connector:amd64 (42.1-3), gnome-core:amd64 (1:43+1), libpipewire-0.3-modules:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1), wireplumber:amd64 (0.4.13-1), gnome-shell-extension-prefs:amd64 (43.9-0+deb12u2), pipewire-alsa:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:35

Start-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:43
Commandline: apt install libpipewire-0.3-modules/bookworm-backports
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Install: libconfig++9v5:amd64 (1.5-0.4, automatic), libxml++2.6-2v5:amd64 (2.40.1-3, automatic), libpipewire-0.3-modules:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1), libffado2:amd64 (2.4.7-1, automatic)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:48

Start-Date: 2024-09-18  14:59:57
Commandline: apt install pipewire/bookworm-backports
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Install: pipewire:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1), pipewire-bin:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, automatic), wireplumber:amd64 (0.4.13-1, automatic)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  15:00:02

I suspended the computer, and after resume, the lock screen was broken:

When I clicked on the password field, the text cursor only appeared for a split second, and I could not type in it
Clicking on the user switch button on the bottom right corner did nothing
A few times, the text "Authentication error" randomly appeared for a split second, probably for 1 frame
No way to reboot the normal way, because I could only use the power menu on the lock screen, which only has suspend

I used the power button to reboot, and instead of GNOME, there was darkness

Debian GNU/Linux 12 dullbananas-macbookpro161 tty1

dullbananas-macbookpro161 login:

I downgraded pipewire to stable

Start-Date: 2024-09-18  15:20:16
Commandline: apt install pipewire/stable
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Downgrade: pipewire:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1), pipewire-bin:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1), libspa-0.2-modules:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1), libpipewire-0.3-modules:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1), libpipewire-0.3-0:amd64 (1.2.3-1~bpo12+1, 0.3.65-3+deb12u1)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  15:20:26

I ran dpkg --verify and got this output

??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.9-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.9-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias.bin
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.9-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.9-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep.bin
missing     /usr/share/dbus-1/services/io.snapcraft.Prompt.service
??5?????? c /etc/systemd/logind.conf
??5?????? c /etc/tlp.conf
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.8-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.8-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias.bin
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.8-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.8-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep.bin
??5?????? c /etc/gdm3/daemon.conf
missing     /etc/os-release.debootstrap
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.7-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.7-1-t2-bookworm/modules.alias.bin
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.7-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep
??5??????   /lib/modules/6.10.7-1-t2-bookworm/modules.dep.bin

I reinstalled systemd (not sure if this made a difference)

Start-Date: 2024-09-18  15:48:58
Commandline: apt install --reinstall systemd
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Reinstall: systemd:amd64 (252.30-1~deb12u2)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  15:49:02

I reinstalled gdm3, and immediately without me doing anything else, there was GNOME instead of darkness

Start-Date: 2024-09-18  15:51:49
Commandline: apt install --reinstall gdm3
Requested-By: dullbananas (1000)
Install: gnome-remote-desktop:amd64 (43.3-1, automatic), gnome-shell:amd64 (43.9-0+deb12u2, automatic), power-profiles-daemon:amd64 (0.12-1+b1, automatic), gdm3:amd64 (43.0-3), gstreamer1.0-pipewire:amd64 (0.3.65-3+deb12u1, automatic), chrome-gnome-shell:amd64 (42.1-3, automatic), gnome-session:amd64 (43.0-1+deb12u1, automatic), gnome-browser-connector:amd64 (42.1-3, automatic), gnome-shell-extension-prefs:amd64 (43.9-0+deb12u2, automatic)
Remove: tlp:amd64 (1.5.0-2), tlp-rdw:amd64 (1.5.0-2)
End-Date: 2024-09-18  15:52:05

End of class
I reinstalled tlp because installing gdm3 removed it
After selecting an app search result, instead of a new window opening, an existing window was focused, and this led to me discovering that my built-in extensions were gone
While writing this post, I got the idea of using the list of removed packages in the apt history log output from apt install libpipewire-0.3-0/bookworm-backports to see what packages to install again, so I did that, then I also had to uninstall firefox-esr again
I rebooted, and my built-in extensions and other stuff were resurrected, so now I have full redemption
Another Window Session Manager restored my windows in a way that pissed me off

(Failed attempts of recovery are not listed)

Edit: actually I made the mistake 1 minute before the start of class

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[–] [email protected] 122 points 2 months ago (5 children)

And this is why you don't update your system while in the middle of something you need it for

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Where's the fun in that? You've gotta raw dog life to get your blood pumping.

^Hey, ^why ^are ^my ^prod ^credentials ^revoked? ^Guys?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Two things to change if you switch from Ubuntu to Debian:

Add the systray icon extension from Ubuntu.
Don't, please don't, forget to turn off auto updates

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 months ago (2 children)

What is wrong with your system that requires disabeling updates?
Been running debian stable on a few hundred servers for 25 ish years.
And I always install and enable unattended upgrades. And it have never been a problem. Not even once.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

When you boot up for a meeting and have to wait 10 minutes for updates to finish. Too much like Windows.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This is why I love ostree distributions so much for my laptop. Not only can I safely update in class, I once switched distributions twice in one day of classes with only like 30s of total downtime, I just waited for the professor to go off on a tangent I didn't need to take notes about so I could reboot.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

I do the same with nix, unless I'm fucking with the bootloader I'll do risky updates because I can always just boot a previous generation

Not everyone has that luxury though

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (2 children)

True, I still think it's fair to criticize the package managers and distros for not anticipating this common scenario and having the ability to roll back easily. How many millions of Linux users have experienced this issue? I'll bet a few.

Debian, Gentoo come from another generation and sometimes it shows, I mean snapshots weren't even a thing yet AFAIK.

[–] nyan 3 points 2 months ago

Actually, I don't think you could break a system in quite this way in Gentoo these days. Portage generally doesn't remove packages during upgrades (certainly not unrelated ones that would break the depgraph!). It would have exited with (in this case) a message about version conflicts before changing any packages and left it for the user to sort out. Modern versions of portage do a pretty good job of keeping you from shooting yourself in the foot by accident, while leaving you with a lot of leeway for doing so on purpose.

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[–] [email protected] 93 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Good person! This is how you learn Linux and gain experience. Trying to understand why something happened and trying to fix it using that understanding. Not "just reinstall" or worse "you should use X distro instead."

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

And for the full Linux experience do it at the perfect moment, such as when you're in a lecture or customer presentation!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

Bystanders in fearful respect

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[–] [email protected] 64 points 2 months ago (1 children)

1 minute before class: the perfect time to mess with Linux audio and video drivers.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

This is why I use Debian 12 with minimal backports on my main college laptop. (I just have backports kernel and firmware for the Wi-Fi card as well as backports smartctl due to a bugfix).

[–] [email protected] 50 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This has some "yes do as I say" vibes

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[–] [email protected] 43 points 2 months ago (2 children)

As long as you can log into a shell and get root permissions, everything's fine.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

On nixos i managed to uninstall nix (package manager), remove my user account, git, ls, WiFi drivers and basically everything else

I can't remember how I rescued it now but managed to get it back without a reinstall

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I can't remember how I rescued it now but managed to get it back without a reinstall

You could've booted into a previous generation where you still had all those things on your system. The glory of atomic distros :)

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago

I really wonder how you managed to uninstall nix. Editing configuration.nix shouldn't even allow for removing .nix...

Anyway, this post made me remember why I used btrfs for my new btrfs system.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

as long as you have access to the boot drive everything's fine, just varying degrees of painful to rectify.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 2 months ago

When you do a dist-upgrade on anything but the stable main repos, you're on your own.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 months ago

yum history undo last

There's a colossal amount of work that goes into making that command usable and reliable, and I'm glad to say the yum-adjacent distros are still putting in the effort. That may change, but so far it's been there to save my bacon when I need it.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 months ago

kinda love how you used gnome with macbook it fits soo well

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

There's something very appropriate about you using all those (system) tools during an anthropology lecture.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 months ago

Nala brings dnf-style history and undo to Debian and Ubuntu. Highly recommend.

[–] azvasKvklenko 17 points 2 months ago

Yes, DO AS I SAY!

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 months ago

That's why it's a good idea to take a btrfs snapshot before updating or changing things. Snapshots are almost instant and sure save a lot of work if you break something.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago (4 children)

This guy doesnt use tabs

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Congratulations 🎉 Nice work figuring it out.

Gotta love the idea that when you uninstall a package all the packages that depend on it must be removed for consistency.

Out of curiosity, what were you looking to gain from the pipewire upgrade?

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Debian GNU/Linux 12 dullbananas-macbookpro161 tty1

dullbananas-macbookpro161 login:

What more do you need?!

Lol but seriously,

Remove: ...gnome-shell...

That'll do it.

You should consider setting up btrfs w/ Timeshift.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

That’s a fun mistake to make. I had a similar thing happen with Kubuntu uninstalling my GPU drivers. I could never figure out what caused it.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

At least you got to multi-user.target. I've done worse to my arch system that needed an entire chroot reinstall

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

I feel you. I once was messing around with python and realized I had too many python versions installed for no reason, so I uninstalled them all to install a single one.

Oh the pain.

[–] 9488fcea02a9 6 points 2 months ago

Newer versions of apt now have coloured text showing what will be installed (green) and what will be REMOVED (red)

Handy feature for someone like me who also makes mistakes

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

You might be interested in reading the Unix Haters Handbook. I mean, that the command to install a backport so easily allowed you to remove core packages without a... Better warning, is an old complaint

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

If only you had timeshift and a CoW filesystem ;) rollbacks are easy peasy then!

[–] lurch 4 points 2 months ago

just make sure you have backups and stuff like this doesn't matter

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Been there.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Eh, at least you can still take notes very easily and reinstall DE later.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

(Failed attempts of recovery are not listed)

~~Would be interesting though~~

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[–] pastermil 3 points 2 months ago

Sounds like you've had something to learn after all.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

A fellow anthropologist using linux in the wild! There's dozens of us! :)

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

So I got this error alot with elementaryOS doing exactly what you did. And it was always some dependency like lightDM not initiating properly.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

It just wanted to remove French, ofc I said yes!!

But also, honestly, I always "-y".
The gamble is I'll have to use an earlier ~~bitchtree~~ btrfs snapshot.

And thx for the great commentary on point 13.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Yet even without a WM, still better than macOS

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Hard lesson to learn, I've been taught the same myself.

Some others have said it already, but I will repeat the gospel, use Timeshift!

I did nearly the exact same thing you did on my Debian laptop at a tech conference right at the beginning of an important session.

I decided to mess around with my wireless drivers. IDK why I thought that was a good idea, I don't remember what I was trying to do, but I borked my networking stack completely.

couldn't get it to reconnect, couldn't get the settings to revert or anything.

I quickly ran Timeshift and selected my most recent automatic daily restore point. 5 minutes later I was back 100% Internet was working perfectly, nothing funky, and I was able to catch up and follow the lecture again.

Timeshift is awesome too because it runs from the command line if you need it to. So even borking your GUI isn't a death sentence, you can still run Timeshift from the terminal and restore your system.

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