Where do .debs go?
 

Sorry if this has been mentioned elsewhere, but my searched in google were in vain.
I've had my N900 for less than a month now and already have nearly 50-60 apps on it. All these were downloaded and installed via the app manager. Now my question is, when/if I format and flash the phone, do I have to download all these apps again?
Or are the .debs stored somewhere else from where I can just install it directly?
I ask this because in most, nay all, of my previous phones, I used to maintain a folder with all the .sis/.sisx or .exe/.cab files required for installing all my favorite apps in case of a format. Not so in my N900.

Re: Where do .debs go?
 

If you do a backup of your phone, your application list is saved. So if you do a format and restore a backup, the programs will be reinstalled (directly from the app catalog, not from a local store of the deb files). All app settings are also saved (AFAIK) - so the result should be that you end up with the same apps with the same settings after a restore.

Re: Where do .debs go?
 

Yes, but the problem is
1. I have only limited free net usage pm and this will eat up a significant portion of it, esp with easy debian, other games, etc
2. It will take a long time as I get only around 6kbps max.
So, if it was stored locally somewhere....

Re: Where do .debs go?
 

i don't remember the name, but there is a program to save allt he debs of the installed packages

Re: Where do .debs go?
 

at least most of your debs are gone now, you should copy them during or asap after the installation process in order to be sure that you can get them copied and temp directory is not flushed.

Re: Where do .debs go?
 

So where are they stored temporarily? I was searching through the forum again and somewhere somebody was talking about creating a script that automatically copies .debs from temp folder to safety. Any idea on that, or how it can be implemented?

Re: Where do .debs go?
 

if I remember correctly.

Re: Where do .debs go?
 

I checked it and there is pretty much nothing there; just folder 'archive' and some *cache.bin. Anyway, cd'd into archive and this is what i get for ls-
lock
partial
and 2 python related debs (oauth, poster)

I guess my debs are cleared away. Anyway, next time I download something big, I can find it here, eh? Thanks

Re: Where do .debs go?
 

The debs are in the archives directory if there are any.

Re: Where do .debs go?
 

Use a filemanager that lets you access those areas or with xterminal use copy eg:

First list the .deb to find out its name:

Depending on where you got it, the location might change:

Ovi Store paid debs: /var/tmp
Other debs: /home/user/MyDocs/.apt-archive-cache
Debs installed through apt-get: /var/cache/apt/archives

Credits to MohammedAG:http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...8&postcount=10

The output would provide eg: Zenbound1.2.deb

Then copy it to wherever you want (this case the root folder in the default file manager)

This is important. I do not know at what point the Application Managers cleans the cache, so it is recommended that you do this during the installation.

To overcome the cache problem you can change this file:
Change the value of "clean-after-install" from '1' to '0'.

Re: Where do .debs go?
 

So, If I do this, my cache will not be cleared and I can periodically backup my debs every week or so? And further, I will have to manually clear it periodically?

Also in the wiki, there is a warning:
So this means that if I keep my cache uncleaned for long, it can brick my system?

Re: Where do .debs go?
 

Yes well..you will learn to hate the rootfs (or the lack of space in it..).

The rootfs is very fast memory and is only 256MB (It is not RAM). Here only the most important (with the most need to be accessed) system files and application files should be kept since the space is very limited.

For some strange reason some of the debs are stored in the rootfs (/var/ is in rootfs). Now if rootfs fills up, the device will become unresponsive. You won't receive new messages, media won't be updated and many other problems. So do check that it doesn't fill up.

An app called Conky is a good way to monitor your rootfs usage. You can also use an app called 'storage usage' to easily have more detail of what is eating up space.

P.S. It's good that you are taking the time to read the wiki.

Re: Where do .debs go?
 

Whoa! Your mention of rootfs led down a deep deep rabbit hole (I've been hearing about rootfs, but never bothered about it till now). I see that for N8x0 there was an extendedrootfilesystem that increased rootfs space. Nothing similiar for n900?

Also in app manager, there is an app savedebz. What exactly does it do? Download all the debz as required and move it to SD card?


Thanks for the heads up on conky.


You know what they say, RTFM :p. But speaking of which is there no man pages for maemo apps?

Re: Where do .debs go?
 

doesn't it got a description in the app manager?

Re: Where do .debs go?
 

Description in App manager: Easily copy/download pacakges to SD card and back.
My doubt was whether this recovered .debs from temporary cache or whether it downloaded all debs and stored it in SD. I think it does the latter, which may be my only choice for now.