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Thread: Why do I need a C compiler to read man pages?

  1. #1
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    [SOLVED] Why do I need a C preprocessor to read man pages?

    Documentation for commands is typically invoked with
    Code:
    /usr/bin/man (commandname)
    The only source of /usr/bin/man I was able to find is package 'man-db', which requires packages bsdmainutils.
    bsdmainutils requires 'cpp'.

    Why do I need to install a C compiler just to read the instructions that comes with each program?
    It seems excessive for what amounts to a wrapper around
    Code:
    zcat /usr/share/man/man1/lynx.1.gz |groff -man -Tascii |less
    .
    Last edited by Mozai; March 9th, 2011 at 12:35 AM.

  2. #2
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    Re: Why do I need a C compiler to read man pages?

    LOL

    No, simply use man

    Code:
    man <command>
    man pages are also available on line

    http://manpages.ubuntu.com/
    There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth...not going all the way, and not starting.
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  3. #3
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    Re: Why do I need a C compiler to read man pages?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mozai View Post
    Why do I need to install a C compiler just to read the instructions that comes with each program?
    You don't. cpp is not a dependency of bsdmainutils:
    Code:
    apt-cache depends bsdmainutils 
    bsdmainutils
      Depends: libc6
      Depends: libncurses5
      Depends: bsdutils
      Depends: debianutils
      Suggests: cpp
     |Suggests: wamerican
      Suggests: <wordlist>
    ...
    EDIT:
    Oh, and cpp is not a compiler. It's the C preprocessor.
    Last edited by sisco311; March 8th, 2011 at 11:57 PM.

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    Re: Why do I need a C compiler to read man pages?

    Quote Originally Posted by bodhi.zazen View Post
    LOL
    No, simply use man
    That doesn't answer any question that starts with the word 'why.' Furthermore, laughing at someone who is asking a serious question is unprofessional. I am surprised that someone with the title 'ubuntu forums admin' would be so disrespectful.

    Quote Originally Posted by sisco311
    You don't. cpp is not a dependency of bsdmainutils.
    It is a dependency of bsdmainutils, according to the package description I have.
    Code:
    moses@equius:~$ apt-cache show man-db |grep Depends:
    Depends: groff-base (>= 1.18.1.1-15), bsdmainutils, 
     debconf (>= 1.2.0) | debconf-2.0, 
     dpkg (>= 1.9.0), libc6 (>= 2.8), 
     libgdbm3 (>= 1.8.3), zlib1g (>= 1:1.1.4)
    moses@equius:~$ apt-cache show bsdmainutils |grep Depends:
    Depends: libc6 (>= 2.4), libncurses5 (>= 5.6+20071006-3),
      bsdutils (>= 3.0-0), debianutils (>= 1.8), cpp
    Thank you for pointing out that cpp is the preprocessor and not the compiler. I feel better about installing it if it comes to that. To satisfy my own curiosity, I think I'll build something small to replace /usr/bin/man
    Last edited by Mozai; March 9th, 2011 at 12:14 AM.

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    Re: Why do I need a C compiler to read man pages?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mozai View Post
    It is a dependency of bsdmainutils, according to the package description I have.
    Just checked it at packages.ubuntu.com. It seems that they fixed the issue. In Natty (bsdmainutils (8.2.2)), cpp is no longer a dependency of bsdmainutils:

    Code:
    sisco@acme:~$ apt-cache show bsdmainutils | grep Depends:
    Depends: libc6 (>= 2.4), libncurses5 (>= 5.5-5~), bsdutils (>= 3.0-0), debianutils (>= 1.8)

  6. #6
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    Re: Why do I need a C compiler to read man pages?

    Groovy. I love it when stuff is fixed/improved by the time I find it.

  7. #7
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    Re: Why do I need a C compiler to read man pages?

    bsdmainutils includes all sorts of stuff. Maybe one of those programs could can use a precompiler on its config file, something like that. My guess would be calendar. Maybe it used to and doesn't any more.

    cpp is also needed by several other key packages, not least the tools used to start X. You'll find it quite difficult to get a system that doesn't need it, although it can de done.

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