Quick Start Guide

WARNING: Do not Remove Mandatory System Packages
Do not remove packages such as glibc, zypper, kernel, or similar packages. These
packages are mandatory for the system and, if removed, may cause the system
to become unstable or stop working altogether.
9.1.2.1 Installing Source Packages
If you want to install the corresponding source package of a package, use:
zypper source-install package_name
That command will also install the build dependencies of the specied package. If
you do not want this, add the switch -D. To install only the build dependencies use
-d.
zypper source-install -D package_name # source package only
zypper source-install -d package_name # build dependencies only
Of course, this will only work if you have the repository with the source packages
enabled in your repository list (it is added by default, but not enabled). See Sec-
tion 9.1.4, “Managing Repositories with Zypper” (page 117) for details on repository
management.
A list of all source packages available in your repositories can be obtained with:
zypper search -t srcpackage
9.1.2.2 Utilities
To verify whether all dependencies are still fullled and to repair missing dependen-
cies, use:
zypper verify
In addition to dependencies that must be fullled, some packages “recommend”
other packages. These recommended packages are only installed if actually available
and installable. In case recommended packages were made available after the rec-
ommending package has been installed (by adding additional packages or hardware),
use the following command:
zypper install-new-recommends
This command is very useful after plugging in a webcam or WLAN device. It will install
drivers for the device and related software, if available. Drivers and related software
are only installable if certain hardware dependencies are fullled.
9.1.3 Updating Software with Zypper
There are three dierent ways to update software using Zypper: by installing
patches, by installing a new version of a package or by updating the entire distribu-
114 Start-Up