Some packages just aren't in the repository... where do I find them?

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1

Hi, I am new to Opensuse, but not to Linux. I am using tumbleweed, and so far I am having a good experience with Opensuse, but I am surprised that some packages that I have been using in other distributions are nowhere to be found. For example gmrun and freeplane.

Gmrun (Gnome Completion-Run) is an lightweight application launcher similar to GNOME Run, Application Finder, KRunner, etc.

Freeplane is a free, open source software application for creating mind maps (diagrams of connections between ideas), and electronic outlines. It is link freemind (I think it’s a fork)

I am using Tumbleweed with the following repos installed, enabled and refreshing:

  • Main Repository (NON-OSS)
  • Main Repository (OSS)
  • Main Update Repository
  • openSUSE-20160112-0
  • Packman repository (openSUSE_Tumbleweed)
  • Essential multimedia packages
  • PackMan extra packages
  • GNOME Applications
  • GNOME 3.16 for openSUSE 13.2
  • PackMan additional multimedia packages

What am I missing here? Where can I find these packages? And, I’m curious as to why they are not concidered stable in Opensuse, when they are stable in some other mainstream distros I use, including Debian and Centos.

Appreciate the help.

2

Hi
Check out https://software.opensuse.org/search?
X11:Utilities repo
https://software.opensuse.org/package/gmrun
Office repo
https://software.opensuse.org/package/freeplane

Why if running Tumbleweed, using an old 13.2 version of GNOME?

3

There are many, many more repos to choose from.
You can browse them directly using a web browser pointed to the following URL

http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/

And you can add any you wish using zypper as follows (or YAST)

zypper ar *repoURI friendly_name *

Or, you can search the above repos <and> a variety of private repos at OBS at

http://software.opensuse.org

TSU

4

Hi
This is because they exist only in a development (or maybe home) repository and the packager has decided no to push the respective package(s) into the Factory repository for inclusion in Tumbleweed.

There are additional commitments and obligations when pushed to the distribution and the packager/maintainer may not feel they can meet this, hence they live in a development repository…

https://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Factory

5

Wow!!! Talk about a fast response… Thanks… I am checking the links and responses and will respond back.

Why if running Tumbleweed, using an old 13.2 version of GNOME?

I didn’t see a tumbleweed Repos listed for GNOME and was looking for gnrun. I will be removing it.

6

DO NOT mix repo version this leads to problems with packages from different version of openSUSE which may not work together

7

Check out Search?
X11:Utilities repo
openSUSE Software
Office repo
https://software.opensuse.org/package/freeplane

I was able to install both packages from these above links, and added the X11:Utilities repo.

http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/

I am starting to see that Opensuse uses many individual repos–getting the hang of it now.

DO NOT mix repo version this leads to problems…

Understood. I have deleted that repo.

There are additional commitments and obligations when pushed to the distribution and the packager/maintainer may not feel they can meet this, hence they live in a development repository…
https://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Factory

OK, so I guess it’s best not to enable this repo, just install individual packages if there is no other option, since it’s a developement repo.

Thanks for the helpful and fast responses.

8

If you need you can install a package but DO NOT keep the repo active. You may pull in stuff you don’t want need or that will break things

9

I was wondering about that. Thanks for the confirmation.