Synaptic in Mint

kc1di

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A lot of chatter on mint forums and other places is around why syanptic package manager has been depreciated in Mint 22.1
though you can still at this time install it
Code:
sudo apt install synaptic
This is Mints rational for not installing it during install:

Modernization of APT dependencies​

One of the major projects in Linux Mint 22.1 was a thorough review and modernization of APT dependencies. The goal was to clean up outdated components, rationalize, and create a streamlined, future-proof set of package management tools and libraries.

APT isn’t just a command-line utility; it’s a robust ecosystem of tools (like Synaptic, GDebi, and apturl) and libraries (such as aptdaemon and packagekit) that support Mint’s applications. Many of these tools, though functional, were built over a decade ago and are no longer maintained upstream. While Linux Mint, Ubuntu, and Debian have patched them over the years, their aging design and limited features created persistent issues and barriers to innovation.

To address this, Linux Mint transitioned to Aptkit and Captain:

  • Aptkit replaces aptdaemon, providing a streamlined library for package management operations with updated functionality.
  • Captain unifies the features of GDebi and apturl into a single, easy-to-use utility.
All the tools previously reliant on aptdaemon, synaptic or apturl now use these replacements.


Captain replaces Gdebi/apturl with better translations and less bugs
This transition has several benefits:



  • Better translations: Everything is now fully translated, eliminating longstanding localization issues.
  • Improved quality: By removing reliance on unmaintained components, Mint ensures fewer bugs and "paper cuts". Small bugs can be addressed, they're no longer considered as "upstream / wontfix".
  • Simplified architecture: Moving to Aptkit allowed the Software Sources to downgrade foreign packages graphically and no longer rely on a VTE. In the Update Manager, it empowered us to boost Wayland compatibility and modernize the multithreading and multiprocessing code, which were getting very old.
  • Easier development: Rather than constantly patching release after release (packagekit's inability to purge, aptdaemon's inability to remove essential orphans), we develop the features we need and rely on libraries that fully support what we need.



Foreign packages can be downgraded graphically
While these changes might be invisible to most users, they lay the groundwork for a smoother, more reliable experience and any new issues can now be addressed with ease. This modernization ensures that Linux Mint’s package management remains robust, user-friendly, and ready for the future.


Much improved package management, multithreading and multiprocessing in the Update Manager
These changes represent a significant step toward a smoother and more future-proof experience with the many tools which rely on package management.
 


I hope they dont do the same to LMDE, I prefer the apt format
 
I hope they dont do the same to LMDE, I prefer the apt format
I'm afraid that it's on it's way out. But Debian has shown no signs of it yet so think your safe for a bit anyway. JMO
 
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It is a clean up exercise, in order to make their jobs easier and more effective. They will no longer need to patch all the holes that appear after each update/upgrade......which continually happens with Synaptic, due to its lack of development/maintaining/ ....not being maintained upstream.
It had to change....Mints forward trajectory was hampered because with each update/upgrade a "fix job' would have to be done on synaptic (among many others) so that it would continue to be of use without crashing the show. A bit like points style electrical systems in cars and small engines......that system was replaced with electronic ignitions so that the car manufacturers etc were not forever "tidying up" the old points systems to keep the various engines running smoothly

Time to move on.
 
There are pros and cons to this, mostly pros. I guess I have no stake in this since I only use the CLI for package management, no matter the distro. And Debian is my daily driver which means anything "new" only affects the me six years from now, by which stage I've learned to deal with them because of the "more up-to-date" distros I run. Now Synaptic's good for one thing: browsing graphically. Aside from that, I don't use it to install anything because it's just a shorter distance between two points to use APT, since, well, that's what Synaptic does.
That said, lots of people are used to Synaptic. They've been using it for years. So I think it may be a bumpy road for them to see they have these sparkly new things with very little adjustment period... But under the hood, it's still apt. And until Flatpak takes over per-distro repos, giving birth to a new monster called Globalinuxed*, and causing me to I check out of Linux into FreeBSD, I'm not too vested in the GUI side of things. So long as apt works the same, I'm happy.

That all said, it is time for a clean-up. Although, as I mention in my posts now and then, my issues lie with packages and dependencies themselves. Not to stray off topic -- I fear I do this a lot these days -- but over the last ~8 years, I've seen a build-up of "dependency clutter". One of the biggest culprits are metapackages (or tasks). Yes, they are convenient, let's nobody deny that, but they wreak havoc, too, because you uninstall something stupid and your whole DE gets marked for removal. Case in point network-manager: Cinnamon "depends" on it (not sure if the non-meta Cinnamon package does). Luckily this is not true in Debian's Cinnamon. But plenty other muck has built up. Try removing ristretto and watch your XFCE4 DE get washed away.

And bringing the on- and off-topics together: It's good that the Mint team are moving forward. But it's a little dissappointing we can't do something about the bigger issue of cruft in Debian-based distros. I mean I love our family (well, except Ubuntu**), but let's face facts: we have some very severe issues to sort out. I think they deserve some attention. Not saying this isn't a proactive step, it is, and maybe it's a necessary first step.


* Ancient prophecies spoke of Globalinuxed, a fearful monster whose body is said to be made up The Myriad Distros. 'Tis said this beast's breath is of fire and Flatpak, and Snap'ping teeth. "O pray ye now mothers. Pray ye for your sons and daughters of the Tribes of Linux, for the beast cometh and the beast seeketh your children, your cats, and your puppies. A beast whose thirst cannot be quenched, nor stomach filled, nor lust sated." -- The Book of the Linux Prophecies, rev 12:19.

** Ubuntu is like that kid your keep sending to rehab and he keeps coming back with empty promises.
 
I can't remember the last time I used it...so I won't miss it.
1737244393471.gif
 
This copy/past from : https://www.linuxmint.com/rel_xia_whatsnew.php
says it all

This transition has several benefits:




  • Better translations: Everything is now fully translated, eliminating longstanding localization issues.
  • Improved quality: By removing reliance on unmaintained components, Mint ensures fewer bugs and "paper cuts". Small bugs can be addressed, they're no longer considered as "upstream / wontfix".
  • Simplified architecture: Moving to Aptkit allowed the Software Sources to downgrade foreign packages graphically and no longer rely on a VTE.(Virtual Terminal Emulator) In the Update Manager, it empowered us to boost Wayland compatibility and modernize the multithreading and multiprocessing code, which were getting very old.
  • Easier development: Rather than constantly patching release after release (packagekit's inability to purge, aptdaemon's inability to remove essential orphans), we develop the features we need and rely on libraries that fully support what we need.
I may be wrong, but the last highlighted sentence (we develop the features we need etc etc etc ) is a direct move away from Ubuntu. In other words it is emphasising that Linux Mints view of the future of Linux is not helped by ubuntus failure to keep up with what is happening in the ever changing world of technology, and in particular the needs of ordinary PC users.
 
Update Manager was rewritten so it no longer needs to use Synaptic or Gdebi. That means the development team will no longer have to spend time patching Synaptic. They have moved on from all those old software problems to have a cleaner, easier to use Update Manager code base.
 
I may be wrong, but the last highlighted sentence (we develop the features we need etc etc etc ) is a direct move away from Ubuntu.
This has been on the table for years. Basically they've been rewriting things, starting with the DE -- for obvious reasons of user engagement -- and moving forward through lots of smaller utilities and packages they're ironed out creases in. So this is probably a transition that will hopefully see less Ubuntu packages in their repos. As I said, the entire Debian family is in need of a full package revision, but with 50-60k packages (depending on your setup), that's no small feat. Perhaps it's actually time developers across the Debian-family board started working with the Debian team -- and the Debian team be willing -- to start fixing this. Also, maybe adding a 'legacy' repo to each release may help de-prioritise the older stuff that's deprecated.

But a move completely away from Ubuntu is hugely welcomed and long overdue.
 
If any OS company has the necessary funds to "retool" and make a clean sweep of all the antiquated crap they have been sitting on for years....its Ubuntu.
It has to be poorly managed.
 
make a clean sweep of all the antiquated crap
Brian, conical [Ubuntu] and RHEL [Red hat] are not altruistic companies, they are only interested in the money they make selling their product and services to big users, if some thing is out of date, as long as it works they will not spend the excessive hourly rate to get a script kiddy to either update or find an alternative, why do you think i moved to LMDE instead of the Ubuntu Mint BLOAT making LMDE a tad faster
 
I agree, Brian. The fact that they are money hungry dudes has been my contention all along.

Their interest is firmly rooted in the buck and clients/users be damned.
 

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