Installation State Chart
Conceptually, the --unpack, --configure, --install, --deconfigure, --remove, and --purge commands are easy to understand.
However, it can be mind bugging when you think of the large number of possibilities this actually represents.
All packages have a status. The status changes as you unpack, configure, deconfigure, remove packages. There are 3 types of status: valid, working, unknown. The valid statuses are defined in the following table:
| Status | Commands | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Not-Installed |
Nothing --purge --remove + --deconfigure |
The package was never installed or was purged. |
| Unpacked |
--unpack --install + --deconfigure |
The package was unpacked on the target. |
| Installed |
--install --unpack + --configure |
The package was installed on the target. |
| Conf-Files | --install + --remove | The package was installed then removed. |
There are some statuses that can be fixed with the --remove or --purge command line options. Other commands are likely to fail with an error saying that the package does not have a valid status. The following table shows those statuses:
| Status | Comment |
|---|---|
| Half-Installed | Considered as Installed when removing or purging. |
| Half-Configured | Considered as Installed when removing or purging. |
There are some other statuses that happen while the packager is doing work. Those status should never remain in a package. If so, only the --repair command can be used to fix the problem.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| state-chart.ods | 17.55 KB |
