apt should download small packages first

Bug #209681 reported by KarlGoetz
10
This bug affects 1 person
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
apt (Ubuntu)
Confirmed
Wishlist
Unassigned
Declined for Maverick by Sebastien Bacher

Bug Description

Binary package hint: apt

apt-get/aptitude/synaptic etc should attempt to download the smallest files needed first. it would mean that things that are made up of small files could eventually be upgraded if (say) a dialup line disconnects before downloading linux-* and openoffice-* sized packages.

conceptually this would also allow installing minor parts of a system before the whole lot is downloaded (although i appreciate apt is a bit more complex then i make it sound ...)

KarlGoetz (kgoetz)
description: updated
Revision history for this message
Volodya (volodya) wrote :

It does sound like a good idea, but the reasoning behind the last statement is incorrect. The fact that the package is small doesn't imply that it is a dependancy rather than a dependant, plugins will be smaller the main package more often than not, but it actually is useless to download them if you cannot get the large dependancy.

Also i thought that apt-get resumes on partially downloaded files, or am i incorrect?

Revision history for this message
KarlGoetz (kgoetz) wrote : Re: [Bug 209681] Re: apt should download small packages first
  • unnamed Edit (189 bytes, application/pgp-signature; name=signature.asc)

On Mon, 2008-03-31 at 14:08 +0000, Volodya wrote:
> It does sound like a good idea, but the reasoning behind the last
> statement is incorrect. The fact that the package is small doesn't imply
> that it is a dependancy rather than a dependant, plugins will be smaller
> the main package more often than not, but it actually is useless to
> download them if you cannot get the large dependancy.

true enough.

>
> Also i thought that apt-get resumes on partially downloaded files, or am
> i incorrect?

that is correct.
kk

Changed in apt:
importance: Undecided → Wishlist
Revision history for this message
Micheal Harker (mh0) wrote :

Good Idea. I will see If I can get it to do that.

Changed in apt (Ubuntu):
assignee: nobody → MichealH (michealh)
status: New → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
C de-Avillez (hggdh2) wrote :

@MichealH

Please do not assign yourself to a bug unless you are actively working on resolving the issue. Also, please do not change Status without giving a reason for the change.

Resetting to New.

Changed in apt (Ubuntu):
assignee: MichealH (michealh) → nobody
status: Confirmed → New
Revision history for this message
Matthew Paul Thomas (mpt) wrote :

Currently apt waits until the last package in a group is downloaded before it begins installing the first one. If that was fixed, which is bug 313680, *then* downloading the smallest package first would allow the installation to start sooner. Until that is fixed, though, the order of download would make no difference.

Revision history for this message
Thomas Hotz (thotz-deactivatedaccount) wrote :

Setting to confirmed.

Changed in apt (Ubuntu):
status: New → Confirmed
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