Keeping software selection when making a new installation

[DrMartinus]

Hi,

I want to install Kubuntu 12.10 - have been running 12.4, which was an upgrade of a previous 11.10. Before I switched to Kubuntu, I was using LinuxMint. One thing that LinuxMint has, but which I miss in any other distro, is the possibility to save the current software selection, i.e. the currently installed software, and then let the system install all the software again, once the new version has been installed. Since I did not find such a helpful tool in 11.10, I did an upgrade. But I noticed some flaws, minor things, but they gave me some headache and a few hours of work. That's why I'm reluctant just to upgrade, and anyway I want to install the system on a new harddrive (/home remains untouched), so I guess an upgrade would be no choice.
I know that apt-get has some options to do that, but it's very difficult to figure out which software has finally been installed and where there were problems (particularly when other than the default repositories have been used). the software in LinuxMint has a GUI and is very easy to handle. Does anyone know of anything comparable?

Thanks in advance!

Martin

[OneLine]

...the software in LinuxMint has a GUI and is very easy to handle.

Could you tell the Gui (package manager ?) name ?


Earlier Kubuntu Forums - Cloning & How to get list of installed packages:

http://www.kubuntuforums.net/showthr...alled-packages
http://www.kubuntuforums.net/showthr...alled-packages
http://www.kubuntuforums.net/showthr...n-installation
http://www.kubuntuforums.net/showthr...ystem-my-way-D

This: http://askubuntu.com/questions/17823...alled-packages tells that the Synaptic package manager has an option:

You can use Synaptic to save the current state of your installed packaged. In Synaptic, select "file/save markings", Enter the name of the file to save the state to, and make sure to check the "Save full state, not only changes" box.

The file saved from this can be loaded into a new machine using "file/read markings" in Synaptic.

The Muon Package Manager has save package list



But note that the some of the packages can be dropped/replaced from the official Ubuntu repositories. It is possible that the 12.04 release has a package but the 12.10 doesn't have it - example: mplayerthumbs: http://packages.ubuntu.com/search?ke...ll&section=all.

[DrMartinus]

Thanks for the reply! Here I found a description of the Mint software, a little down the page. It's called "Backup Tool": http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/2. It really seems unique, but I find it indespensable for a clean upgrade and don't understand why other distros don't provide such a tool.

I think what you describe from Synaptic and Muon Package Manager is more or less the same thing that apt-get does. The question is: can I then easily restore this list, i.e. reinstall those packages? And do I see which haven't been installed, because they have been removed from the repositories? That was the good thing about the Mint software. I could browse the list and saw immediately which package wasn't available any longer. Then I could look for a substitute or leave it. The thing is that some of the software I use rarely, so I don't necessarily remember them by name. It would be hard to find them again when I need them, and definitely I would miss them when doing a new installation.

[OneLine]

...It's called "Backup Tool": http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/2. It really seems unique, but I find it indespensable for a clean upgrade and don't understand why other distros don't provide such a tool...

If the sources are available...

It is probably (?) : http://community.linuxmint.com/software/view/mintbackup



With the Ubuntu: http://www.webupd8.org/2010/07/insta...nt-backup.html

A PPA: https://launchpad.net/~webupd8team -> https://launchpad.net/~webupd8team/+archive/mintbackup

mintbackup - 2.0.9-0~webupd8~0 2012-09-04 Published Quantal Admin

Repositories:
- https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories/Ubuntu
- https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories/Kubuntu
- https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+ppas

Personal Package Archives (PPA) allow you to upload Ubuntu source packages to be built and published as an apt repository by Launchpad. You can find out more about PPAs...

...I think what you describe from Synaptic and Muon Package Manager is more or less the same thing that apt-get does. The question is: can I then easily restore this list, i.e. reinstall those packages? And do I see which haven't been installed, because they have been removed from the repositories?...

I have not tried - so I can't say.

I'm using the text list with the local user logs. When I add something or remove something I make a note.

At here - the Quantal logs are telling:

Log of sudo apt-get install kde-thumbnailer-deb kde-thumbnailer-openoffice ffmpegthumbs mplayerthumbs kdegraphics-thumbnailers
Fri Oct 19 17:00:05 2012

...

E: Package 'mplayerthumbs' has no installation candidate
sudo died with exit status 100