Now lets take a closer look at the YaST software manager for OpenSUSE. This is another very powerful software manager that is full of features. Like other software managers you can use YaST to install and remove software on your system.
YaST Functions
YaST is able to manage software repositories and update installed packages. Or you can see important details about individual packages, and view a history of changes made to your software.
Installing YaST
Users can even install the YaST software center and some other useful tools using Zypper with the following commands.
$ sudo zypper install yast2-gtk
Inside the YaST software manager main window you can find the following items.
The Menu Bar
The menu bar is located at the top of the YaST software manager window. Here you can find all of the important actions and options that will help you interact
The Search Bar
You can find the search bar just above the package listing area. Here you can type in the name of the package you want, items that match your text will appear in the package list. You can use the drop down menu to refine your searches, choose to search by name, description, file name, of other options.
The Package Group Panel
You can also use the groups panel to find packages of a specific type. There are several groups to choose from such as desktop, graphics, games, multimedia and network.
The Package State Panel
The package state panel is located below the package group panel, here you can select individual package states that you want displayed in your package list. You can choose to display all installed packages, all upgradeable packages, and all not installed packages.
The Package Listing Area
After you search for a package, or choose a package group, the results will be displayed in the package listing area. You can then interact with the package. You may install, remove, or upgrade packages, then simply press apply to proceed with the changes.
The Package Details Panel
The details panel is located at the bottom of the main window. Here you can find information about highlighted packages including version information.
The following actions and options are contained inside the YaST software manager menus.
File Menu
The first menu is the file menu which holds the following actions.
Import
Use this to import a saved package list from a backup file.
Export
This will export the list of current packages and packages states into a file.
Apply
With this you can apply the changes made to packages during this session.
Quit
Use this to close and quit the YaST software manager.
Configuration Menu
Next is the configuration menu, here you will find the actions seen below.
Repositories
This will allow you to manage your software sources and add additional software repositories to the list.
Search Packages On Web
This will let you use the Webpin package search to search all OpenSUSE build services and community repositories.
Dependencies Menu
The dependencies menu holds the following actions.
Check Now
Use this to check for package updates.
Auto Check
With this you can toggle auto checking of packages for updates.
Options Menu
The options menu will allow you to change the options used for installing and updating packages. You will find the following actions.
Show -devel Packages
Toggle this option to see -devel packages in your search results.
Show -debuginfo/-debugsource Packages
If you toggle this option -debuginfo and -debugsource packages will be displayed in the search results.
System Verification Mode
This option will enable system verification mode, no explanation is available.
Ignore Recommended Packages For Already Installed Packages
I admit, this option is a complete anomaly, someone fill me in please.
Cleanup When Deleting Packages
Use this to perform additional cleanup actions when deleting packages, no documentation is provided for this option.
Allow Vendor Change
You can define a list of repositories with different vendors to control specific versions of packages, this option will allow you to switch between vendor lists.
Extras Menu
From the extras menu you can display some other useful information or toggle some more helpful options.
Show Products
Use this to show a listing of available products.
Show Changes
This will open a window with a list of changes made during the current session.
Show History
This will also open a window with a list of changes made during previous sessions, dates will also be displayed.
Install All Matching -devel Packages
This will display a list of all -devel packages that can be used with installed packages on your system.
Install All Matching -debug-info Packages
Use this to see a list of -debug-info packages that match installed packages on your system.
Install All Matching -debug-source Packages
This will show a list of -debug-source packages that match installed packages on your system.
Generate Dependencies Resolver Testcase
This option is obscure, no documentation is provided.
Reset Ignored Dependencies Conflicts
With this you can reset all ignored conflicts in package dependencies which you have set in the past.
Linux Desktop Software Managers
Tags: install, manager, OpenSUSE, package, software, YaST | Posted in Desktop
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