On Sun, 15 Jun 2025 12:00:01 +0000
terryc <terryc@???> wrote:
> 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 environment, 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.

But then why even have a selection for desktop environment
instead of just having a set of selections for DEs that you can install
if you want them?

That's one extra check box that does absolutely nothing and breaks the
install process if selected without selecting a DE. Breaking something
without a good reason is a bug, right?

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

123KB really isn't that much.

> 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.

Of course.

> >
> > 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.

If someone selects the box for desktop environment but doesn't select one
of the DE options, it logically follows that they're *not* trying to get a
headless environment.

> 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' ".
> <snip>

I never complained about having to use the CLI. I'm uncertain how you
even came to that conclusion. I mean, let's say I get TWM by default,
like I suggested above, then I'd have to use Xterm to call apt to install
the WM that I desire. So obviously, I'm okay with using the CLI.

Thanks,
David