apt-compare

What is this?

Before we move into what is this, let's think about following scenario.

I've just installed Ubuntu (or any Debian distro) on my machine. But I simply just can't play a single mp3 even. And also I need much more softwares that Ubuntu doesn't offer by default..
So one of my friend told me that it's very easy to install softwares in to Ubuntu by using Synapatic Package Manager or using apt-get
But all of these get worst for me; why? all above softwares generally needs an internet connection to function properly..
And I've tried by downloading some packages from internet (@ campus). But when it comes to installation it ask for other dependency packages..

I felt so sad.

And the same time my friend Prasad has a very fast internet connection and he is Using the same version of Ubuntu like me but with all these maxa softwares.
So I was thinking a way of getting these softwares from Prasad's installation to my one.

But I was clueless because I was not a Linux guru.

OK let's back to the apt-compare

That is the most novice linux users felt that Linux is very hard to use and it's not very user-friendly. And I also felt that too. So I develop this bash script for those novice people who don't have an internet connection but still want to install and use non-default softwares..

Simply That's what apt-compare do.

Actually How apt-compare works

Simply apt-compare has list of packages in your installation. and you logged into another installation of your OS which has an internet connection or with the installed your preferred software(s).. And when you wan't to get any software using apt-compare it'll compare between your installation's packages and get the additional packages from the current installation's cache if it is installed.

If requested packages(or some) couldn't found on there you'll notify list of packages you need to get manually (usually from the internet)

If the your requested package doesn't installed in this machine apt-compare ask from you to download those packages from the internet and install it to current machine and then do the above process.

OK let's checkout some example

• First you need to have a pen drive with the apt-compare script
• then go to the location of apt-compare using the terminal (in a folder of your pen drive)
• give permission to apt-compare to be executable

chmod 777 apt-compare

• then create the package list of your installtion

./apt-compare -m

• Go to another installation of your OS which has an internet connection
• plug the pen drive go to the apt-compare's folder
• say if wan't to get vlc and php

./apt-compare vlc
./apt-compare php
#if you need any other packages replace use following format
#./apt-compare <package name>

• then apt-compare will create a folder and put all the packages you need to have in your installation.
• If you requested to get any packages manually. Then download them manually and put them into your package's folder in the apt-compare script folder

• Now go to your machine and plug the pen drive and move ur terminal to the apt-compare script's folder
• Then install those packages to your machine

./apt-compare -i vlc
./apt-compare -i php
#or this is the more generic format
#./apt-compare -i <package name>

• Now regenerate the package list

./apt-compare -m

Download

Use it and Notify

Ok then apt-compare is yours. Try it and give feedback for me. and I'm ready to make it more easy to use and more efficient.

Thanks. Arunoda Susiripala me@arunoda.com MIT @ UOK