On Sat, 14 Jun 2025 23:20:50 -0400
David Niklas via Dng <dng@???> wrote:

> Hello,
> I went to install Devuan from scratch on my PC and I got an
> "installation step failed" error message when installing Daedalus.
> This occured after selecting that I wanted a desktop enviroment, but
> deselecting all of the choices as I wanted IceWM, which was not in
> the options.
>
> I ended up disabling the desktop enviroment option to get Devuan to
> install.

My 2c is that isn't a bug and your response (back up, disable DE
selection and continue installing base system) is the correct solution.

Basically "it is impossible to include everything" has been the
situation since base Linux expanded beyond a floppy.

So long as you can CLI a basic static network connection, you have
access to the Devuan/Debian repositories and can install anything not
on the basic installation media.

>
> I understand that IceWM may be an unusual choice, but can't Devuan
> just install TWM, or just X, or something else if I don't select
> which DE I prefer?

That probably becomes cruft to uninstall and some people do not even
want or need that, e.g. headless servers. As well, there are a number
of basic xterm programs that get installed by default. You also get
vi/vim and nano by default.

Also, the ability to enter a basic command line instruction is a
reasonable explanation.

So entering "aptitude search icewm" or which ever of the bakers
dozen(?) of windows manager you want is a reasonable.

Then "sudo apt install'yourwm-of-choice' ".

Linux basically gives you so much freedom to craft your computer to
what your need/want rather than decreeing "a compulsory installation"
you then have to par back.

terryc.