Re: Re: [pgsql-www] We should not transition to apt.postgresql.org until we have a PPA

On Thu, Feb 14, 2013 at 09:51:45PM +0100, Stefan Kaltenbrunner wrote:
> > (2) Problem with general process
> >
> > The instructions expressed on the page involve 6 steps, three of which
> > require editing text files with persnickety syntax, thus requiring an
> > intimate knowledge of Debian packaging, and mapping your numerical
> > release number to the "cute" release names, and rearranging lines of a
> > large complex system-generated file, and messing with repository keys.
>
>
> not sure what the "intimitate knowledge requirement" here is - pasting
> exactly the strings proposed is enough and there is not a single
> requirement on understanding debian packaging, though i have to admit
> that NOT understanding it is kinda a sign that you should not have root
> on the debian based box you are on and you are an admin for.

I don't think "codename" is really good wording here:

    Edit the file /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pgdg.list, and add a line for the
    repository, substituting the proper "codename" for your release deb

        http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt/ precise-pgdg main

Shouldn't we highlight where that name goes?  I am running Squeeze and
though I know "precise" is a code-name, I found out only by accident.  I
particularly think users will not recognize codenames of Debian release
newer than their own.  I suggest this wording:

    Edit the file /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pgdg.list, and add a line for the
    repository, substituting the proper Debian release name:

        http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt/ <i>release-name</i>-pgdg main

Also, we should tell users how to find their release name.  I looked on
Debian and I can't even find out how to find the name, though I know it
is Squeeze.

I am using Ubuntu 12.04 on my laptop and I don't know the release name
of that, nor do I know how to find it.

Also, can't we change this to use a shell?

    Package: *
    Pin: release o=apt.postgresql.org
    Pin-Priority: 500

as in:

    sudo cat > /etc/apt/preferences.d/pgdg.pref <<END
    Package: *
    Pin: release o=apt.postgresql.org
    Pin-Priority: 500
    END

That avoids requiring them to start an editor as root, which we don't
even mention.

Folks, we shouldn't be requiring decoder rings here to install Postgres
--- we have to do better.

--
  Bruce Momjian  <bruce@momjian.us>        http://momjian.us
  EnterpriseDB                             http://enterprisedb.com

  + It's impossible for everything to be true. +