Bug 339797

Summary:	Can't install kde-plasma-desktop non-interactively due to kdm configuration dialog
Product:	kdm	Reporter:	Bob Doolittle <kde.bobd>
Component:	general	Assignee:	kdm bugs tracker <kdm-bugs-null>
Status:	RESOLVED DOWNSTREAM
Severity:	normal	CC:	wbauer1
Priority:	NOR
Version:	4.11.10
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Ubuntu
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:

Description Bob Doolittle 2014-10-08 22:15:44 UTC

I am trying to install kde-plasma-desktop non-interactively. It installs both lightdm and kdm packages. I am using debconf-set-selections to set the "shared/default-x-display-manager" question for both kdm and lightdm before running apt-get, to avoid interaction. Unfortunately the dialog is still presented to choose kdm or lightdm.

If I use "DEBIAN_FRONTEND=non-interactive apt-get install" I avoid the interaction, but the configuration database values are overwritten to prefer kdm.



Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
# debconf-set-selections << ENDIT
kdm	shared/default-x-display-manager	select	lightdm
lightdm	shared/default-x-display-manager	select	lightdm
ENDIT
# debconf-get-selections | grep x-display-manager
kdm	shared/default-x-display-manager	select	lightdm
lightdm	shared/default-x-display-manager	select	lightdm

# DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get install kde-plasma-desktop
...



Actual Results:  
# debconf-get-selections | grep x-display-manager
kdm	shared/default-x-display-manager	select	kdm
lightdm	shared/default-x-display-manager	select	kdm

The file /etc/X11/default-display-manager contains "/usr/bin/kdm"

Expected Results:  
# debconf-get-selections | grep x-display-manager
kdm	shared/default-x-display-manager	select	lightdm
lightdm	shared/default-x-display-manager	select	lightdm

The file /etc/X11/default-display-manager contains "/usr/bin/lightdm"

Comment 1 Bob Doolittle 2014-10-08 22:18:46 UTC

For the record, this appears to be version 4.11.11, but that's not an option in the bug selection dialog. Actual package name is kdm_4%3a4.11.11-0ubuntu0.1_amd64.deb

Comment 2 Bob Doolittle 2014-10-09 15:24:36 UTC

I did a couple of experiments. After installing kde-plasma-desktop, I removed just kdm, set the database to select lightdm, removed /etc/X11/default-display-manager, and then reinstalled kdm with "DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get install kdm". This time it correctly read the package database, and restored /etc/X11/default-display-manager to specify lightdm.

I tried the same thing with removing/reinstalling lightdm, and had the same correct result (lightdm).

I even tried removing both, and then installing both together. That also has the correct result.

So I don't know what it is about installing kde-plasma-desktop that produces the wrong result here.

Comment 3 Wolfgang Bauer 2014-12-16 12:50:36 UTC

You should better report this to your distribution, I'd say.

KDE has no influence how they package the software.
And debconf and that "configuration dialog" is highly specific to Debian-based systems IIANM, and totally unrelated to KDE anyway.