Gnome-software vs synaptic (software-properties-gtk problem)

[mattp]

Hi,

I switched from Debian to Sparky. I have noticed that when I activate both Bullseye & Sid repos and install gnome-software I have problem with accessing repo list via Synaptic. There is only a message that repos have changed and whether to refresh or not. Running synaptic via terminal I recieve errors (shown below) suggesting software-properties-gtk is to blame:

ERROR:root:Cannot import UbuntuDrivers: No module named 'UbuntuDrivers'
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/software-properties-gtk", line 101, in <module>
    app = SoftwarePropertiesGtk(datadir=options.data_dir, options=options, file=file)
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/gtk/SoftwarePropertiesGtk.py", line 109, in __init__
    SoftwareProperties.__init__(self, options=options, datadir=datadir)
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 109, in __init__
    self.reload_sourceslist()
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 599, in reload_sourceslist
    self.distro.get_sources(self.sourceslist)   
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/aptsources/distro.py", line 91, in get_sources
    raise NoDistroTemplateException(
aptsources.distro.NoDistroTemplateException: Error: could not find a distribution template for Sparky/sid

Is it possible to fix it other than deleting software-properties-gtk? Maybe you should create your own version of software-properties-gtk to avoid such problems? Without that package gnome and gnome-core are uninstallable.

Kind regards,
mattp

[paxmark1]

Debian to Sparky.  clean install? or Wipe / and ~/.  (dot files) and install sparky with the rest of ~/  (or /DATA or other form of non-formatted partition for your data) Te or just adding Sparky repos?.                   Testing to rolling  Is better than  Debian Stable to Rolling - unless you perform a clean install.


posting inxi -br would help immensely  also.  Yes,the -r is needed.   

peace out

[mattp]

It was a completely clean installation of Sparky 6 (2020.12 snapshot). Additional repos enabled by Synaptic, everything is ok when software-properties-gtk is out.

Today I've set up a VM to check it with fresh Sparky 6 LxQt (2021.03 snapshot) - just sudo apt upgrade and sudo apt install gnome-software and trying to access repos via Synaptic I have:

ERROR:root:Cannot import UbuntuDrivers: No module named 'UbuntuDrivers'
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/software-properties-gtk", line 101, in <module>
    app = SoftwarePropertiesGtk(datadir=options.data_dir, options=options, file=file)
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/gtk/SoftwarePropertiesGtk.py", line 109, in __init__
    SoftwareProperties.__init__(self, options=options, datadir=datadir)
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 109, in __init__
    self.reload_sourceslist()
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 599, in reload_sourceslist
    self.distro.get_sources(self.sourceslist)   
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/aptsources/distro.py", line 91, in get_sources
    raise NoDistroTemplateException(
aptsources.distro.NoDistroTemplateException: Error: could not find a distribution template for Sparky/bullseye

No other changes made. Just clean 64bit installation and commands mentioned above.

Repos via inxi:

Code Select Expand

Repos:     Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
           1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bullseye main contrib non-free
           2: deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bullseye main contrib non-free
           3: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian-security/ bullseye-security/updates main contrib non-free
           4: deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian-security/ bullseye-security/updates main contrib non-free
           5: deb http://deb-multimedia.org bullseye main non-free
           No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/dropbox.list
           No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/liquorix.list
           No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/sid.list
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/sparky-unstable.list
           1: deb https://repo.sparkylinux.org/ unstable main
           2: deb-src https://repo.sparkylinux.org/ unstable main
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/sparky.list
           1: deb https://repo.sparkylinux.org/ core main
           2: deb-src https://repo.sparkylinux.org/ core main
           3: deb https://repo.sparkylinux.org/ potolo main
           4: deb-src https://repo.sparkylinux.org/ potolo main

[paxmark1]

Forget. What I previously posted  in this post, 

    Have you looked at the  Debian BTS  for synaptic?   My own personal feeilings is that synaptic is not a valid candidate for usage when in Rolling-testing.   Too many dependencies in a a changing environment.   I am taking care of too many people these days to be in Sid or Testing-Rolling.   The - r rules out a Frankendebian.  The -b would have been nice.  That is as good as I cna do to help.  I am just a hobbyist. 

[mattp]

I appreciate your help.

Looking at Synaptic bugs - https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/pkgreport.cgi?pkg=synaptic;dist=unstable - I didn't notice any similar.

Looking at what is written when the problem appears I think that is pure Sparky issue (especially when I reproduced it with clean Sparky 6 installation with no more repos enabled, earlier - with both Bullseye & Sid repos) - because the main package causing problems looks like software-properties-gtk or its dependency (even is something similar, but old and without greater explanation - https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=631509), not Synaptic itself.

I think it's because software-properties-gtk (or another dependence) is taken from pure Debian - it may have predefined distro names list and Sparky is not on it. Because of that when installed - it causes problems. Without it you cannot use gnome-software and Synaptic has a problem with editing repo list.

[pavroo]

Code Select Expand

Error: could not find a distribution template for Sparky/sid

If I remember well, it is about a conflict of a rebranded package.
If works fine on pure Debian, but not on Sparky.

Otherwise, you can use APTus/APTus AppCenter -> Edit Main or Additional Repositories options to do so.

[mattp]

Hi,

thanks for explanation.