Searching for Packages on https://software.opensuse.org is non-functionally bad...

Not to put too fine a point on it, but whatever search engine Opensuse is using? Sucks. Just as an example, I was looking for acpi-call (as it’s called on Ubuntu) to install with the tlpui power management app. So, I go to https://software.opensuse.org and type in

acpi-call

No packages found matching your search.
You could try to extend your search to development packages or search for another base distribution (currently openSUSE:Factory).

call

Returns 41 results but no acpi-call

acpi

Returns three results: acpi, acpid, and acpica but no acpi-call

acpi call

No packages found matching your search.
You could try to extend your search to development packages or search for another base distribution (currently openSUSE:Factory).

So, finally I decide to use Duck Duck Go, and looky there:

https://software.opensuse.org/package/acpi_call

It’s the underscore. I would file a bug with Opensuse but I don’t know where to file bugs as regards their website. I’ve had this experience with other packages…

May I give another suggestion; install an application called opi and use that to search for software without having to resort to browsers (available with 15.x and Tumbleweed in the default repo so just zypper in opi)

For example:


devel:~ # opi acpi-call
Searching...
 1. acpi_call
 2. dkms-acpi_call
 3. acpi_call-kmp-default
 4. acpi_call-kmp-preempt
Choose a number(0 to quit): 1
You have selected package name: acpi_call
 1. home:FrauHolle !                          | 1598813616.3a28aab        | x86_64
 2. home:xorcue !                             | 1598813616.3a28aab        | x86_64
 3. home:sbrabec !                            | 1.1.0                     | x86_64
Choose a number(0 to quit): 

It’s fast, it finds things better than s.o.o, shows repo and version numbers and allows you to add repo and install the app just like that.

Kewel! Thanks for the tip. That will be my goto method from now on.

opi is nice, what also work for me is searching on https://build.opensuse.org, there it is easier to find the history of builds.

More specifically to acpi_call: If you are running Tumbleweed you might run run into a problem.

No such experience here: https://software.opensuse.org/search?utf8=✓&baseproject=ALL&q=acpi lists acpi_call near the top.

my problems with the website is the clunky management.

It is so hard to find the package you are looking for - a web search gives me better results than looking for it in the site

Why is that the software.opensuse.org cannot find packages for Leap 15.3 while:

  • Leap 15.3 has been released more than half a year ago
  • the website can
    find packages both for 15.2 and 15.3

How on Earth does this happen?
I mean, ?nobody checks that it works for the only currently supported non-rolling version?