skype

[tuxracer]

I tried to install skype but because my system is 64-bit/x64, I needed the multiarch.  I know I need x386 architecture but the documentation for this (checked any related debian wiki) for this is abysmal.

I did this:

dpkg --add-architecture i386

It still complained of dependencies.

I guess my system is screwed up now.  LOL!

Oh well.  That experiment ends...

Back to Debian.

[devil]

Skype will not be installled the least bit easier on debian.

greetz
devil

[dibl]

32-bit skype will install and work perfectly on your 64-bit siduction system, with multiarch:

Code Select Expand

root@imerabox:/home/don# apt-cache policy skype
skype:i386:
  Installed: 4.0.0.8-1
  Candidate: 4.0.0.8-1
  Version table:
*** 4.0.0.8-1 0
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

It still complained of dependencies.

Do you mean your addition of i386/multiarch had dependency errors, or your installation of skype on the multiarch system?

Also, it happened that there was some issue in the sid repos yesterday, regarding i386 packages -- possibly you simply picked a bad day to try it.

REF:  How to add multiarch.

[arno911]

Due to abysmal Debian documentation you go back to Debian?

OK...  :roll:

[tuxracer]

Due to abysmal Debian documentation you go back to Debian?

OK...  :roll:

It've installed it in Debian and Mepis before.

[tuxracer]

32-bit skype will install and work perfectly on your 64-bit siduction system, with multiarch:

It still complained of dependencies.

Do you mean your addition of i386/multiarch had dependency errors, or your installation of skype on the multiarch system?

Code Select Expand

skype depends on lib32stdc++6 (>= 4.1.1-21); however:
 Package lib32stdc++6 is not installed.
skype depends on lib32asound2 (>> 1.0.14); however:
 Package lib32asound2 is not installed.
skype depends on ia32-libs; however:
 Package ia32-libs is not installed.
skype depends on libc6-i386 (>= 2.7-1); however:
 Package libc6-i386 is not installed.
skype depends on lib32gcc1 (>= 1:4.1.1-21+ia32.libs.1.19); however:
 Package lib32gcc1 is not installed.
skype depends on ia32-libs-gtk; however:
 Package ia32-libs-gtk is not installed.
I followed the Mulitarch page you referenced.  No dice.  

So, I noticed this command helps to fix the dependency problems:
apt-get -f install

But, it only brings up tons of i386 packages, more than one needs.  I know it's just to fix broken packages, then?  But, nothing else was working.

I tried to install just the packages it was complaining about but that didn't help so I threw my hands up and did the above command.  It's just crazy that there is no universal write-up for an application that is popular (even though it is crap but until an alternative is chosen in great numbers, what can one do?!?).

Yes, the write-ups are poor, imho, but maybe the black cloud wasn't above me last time I tried to install skype in a debian distro.  It somehow worked before.  I think I just followed the skype-in-debian wiki page.  I think since this is sid/unstable, maybe something is different.

[tuxracer]

I guess I did something wrong with the process although I'm not sure what it was (that I was supposed to do or what I missed).  

But, I notice at least 7 threads in the last year in the German section all dealing with multiarch and i386 packages.  A couple (or a few) also deal with the skype install?

[dibl]

So you got it installed?  Yes, apt-get -f install might pull in many i386 packages that you don't think are necessary.  But, unless there is some problem about them, it should not cause any problem to let them in.  What you need to be very careful about, with apt-get -f install, is when it wants to remove lots of packages -- that can cause problems.

Here's what I show for skype dependencies:

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root@imerabox:/home/don# apt-cache depends skype
skype:i386
 Depends: libasound2:i386
 Depends: libc6:i386
 Depends: libc6:i386
 Depends: libgcc1:i386
 Depends: libqt4-dbus:i386
 Depends: libqt4-network:i386
 Depends: libqt4-xml:i386
 Depends: libqtcore4:i386
 Depends: libqtgui4:i386
 Depends: libstdc++6:i386
 Depends: libx11-6:i386
 Depends: libxext6:i386
 Depends: libxss1:i386
 Depends: libxv1:i386
 Conflicts: <skype>
 Conflicts: <skype>
 Conflicts: <skype>
 Conflicts: <skype>
 Replaces: <skype>
 Replaces: <skype>
 Replaces: <skype>
 Replaces: <skype>
root@imerabox:/home/don#

So you need to let it pull in all those packages.

[tuxracer]

Do any of you use skype?  Or is there a user here that does use it (quite often)?   I was just curious.

And have you any insight on how it compares in Windows?

I tested it in Windows 7 and it seemed a bit more clear but I'm not sure.  It might have been coincidence because sound/voice was clear at times in skype in siduction.

Also, I thought there might be some quality issues because Mikeysoft bought it so...

Just wondering what ppl thought about it.

I don't think I have much choice in using it unless I decide to not use it for learning language(s) or can convince ppl to try Google Voice or something other than skype.  Wish me good luck on that one.

[dibl]

I use skype multiple times per week.  It is not 100% bug free -- if I try to answer a skype call while any other package is using the sound system, including a browser, skype won't have audio.  And I turn off the automatic levelling as that seems to be "twitchy" and annoys the other callers.  But it does work reliably, on my siduction system.

[devil]

I use it daily for hours as it's the only contact to my gf atm. She is on windows and we have no problems other than that the connection sometimes drops and we have to reconnect.

greetz
devil

[lizbeth]

Skype has a debian build for 64 bit users on their website...

[dibl]

Skype has a debian build for 64 bit users

No -- that package needs ia32-libs, which is now deprecated for multiarch Debian.  On siduction, we must add multiarch-support and use the 32-bit debian package.

[DeepDayze]

Skype has a debian build for 64 bit users

No -- that package needs ia32-libs, which is now deprecated for multiarch Debian.  On siduction, we must add multiarch-support and use the 32-bit debian package.

Right now ia32-libs is just a transitional metapackage that pulls in all the basic 32 bit packages needed by most 32 bit apps on a 64 bit system

Also that 64 bit Skype package is a 32 bit app repackaged for 64 bit. There's no native 64 bit Skype

[lizbeth]

Right now ia32-libs is just a transitional metapackage that pulls in all the basic 32 bit packages needed by most 32 bit apps on a 64 bit system

Also that 64 bit Skype package is a 32 bit app repackaged for 64 bit. There's no native 64 bit Skype

That's rather like false advertising on their part, isn't it?[/quote]