Cannot install python-matplotlib because of dependency problem on python-dev

Asked by Ronald Portier

Need to install python-matplotlib (a prereq for OpenERP) on Ubuntu 8.0.4 LTS.

sudo apt-get install python-matplotlib

Apt-get reports a dependency on python-dev that cannot be solved.

So I see what happens when I try to install python-dev

Apt-get now reports a dependency on python2.5-dev and says it will not be installed.

So once again I do:

sudo apt-get install python2.5-dev

Now it says (in dutch - I translate the final error message below):

openeyedev@rportier-laptop-01:~$ sudo apt-get install python2.5-dev
Pakketlijsten worden ingelezen... Klaar
Boom van vereisten wordt opgebouwd
Statusinformatie wordt gelezen... Klaar
Sommige pakketten konden niet geïnstalleerd worden. Dit kan betekenen dat u
een onmogelijke situatie gevraagd hebt of dat u de 'unstable'-distributie
gebruikt en sommige benodigde pakketten nog vastzitten in 'incoming'.

Aangezien u slechts een enkele opdracht gegeven hebt is het zeer
waarschijnlijk dat het pakket gewoon niet installeerbaar is. U kunt dan
best een foutrapport indienen voor dit pakket.
De volgende informatie helpt u mogelijk verder:

De volgende pakketten hebben niet-voldane vereisten:
  python2.5-dev: Vereisten: python2.5 (= 2.5.2-2ubuntu4) maar 2.5.2-2ubuntu5 zal geïnstalleerd worden
E: Niet-werkende pakketten:

So the final message is: python2.5.dev: Required: python2.5 (= 2.5.2-2ubuntu4) but 2.5.2-2ubuntu5 will be installed

I have no idea how to solve this. If the package requires one version, why will it then install a newer version and then say it can not meet the requirements?

Hope somebody can help.
Thanks, Ronald

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Albert Damen
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Albert Damen (albrt) said :
#1

Python2.5 version 2.5.2-2ubuntu5 has been available for testing in hardy-proposed for some time. Now it has been removed again, as the tests were not successful or incomplete. Therefore, python2.5-dev of the same version is not available anymore. Apparently, you have that python2.5 version installed.
To solve the problem, you need to downgrade python2.5 to the normal available version:
$ sudo apt-get install python2.5=2.5.2-2ubuntu4

After that, you will be able to install python2.5-dev and python-matplotlib.

Revision history for this message
Ronald Portier (ronald-portier) said :
#2

Albert,

Thank you for your answer.

Unfortunately I still run into trouble.

When trying to downgrade python2.5 as you suggested the system answers
that I need the 2.5.2-2ubuntu4 version of python2.5-minimal instead of the
2.5.2-2ubuntu5 version. However when I try to downgrade that (sudo apt-get
install python2.5-minimal=2.5.2-2ubuntu4) the system warns me that 310
packages will be removed, including Firefox, OpenOffice, Nautilus,
PostgreSQL-8.3 and so on. This is a step I would rather not take...

Is there not any way to edit the dependencies or downgrade in a less
destructive way?

Kind regards,
Ronald Portier

Re: [Question #39796]: Cannot install python-matplotlib because of
dependency problem on python-dev

Albert Damen
to:
ronald
21-07-2008 00:11

Sent by:
<email address hidden>
Please respond to question39796

Your question #39796 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/39796

    Status: Open => Answered

Albert Damen proposed the following answer:
Python2.5 version 2.5.2-2ubuntu5 has been available for testing in
hardy-proposed for some time. Now it has been removed again, as the tests
were not successful or incomplete. Therefore, python2.5-dev of the same
version is not available anymore. Apparently, you have that python2.5
version installed.
To solve the problem, you need to downgrade python2.5 to the normal
available version:
$ sudo apt-get install python2.5=2.5.2-2ubuntu4

After that, you will be able to install python2.5-dev and python-
matplotlib.

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Revision history for this message
Best Albert Damen (albrt) said :
#3

You are right, you don't want to remove all those packages.

The trick is to downgrade python2.5 and python2.5-minimal at the same time, with one command (all on one line):

$ sudo apt-get install python2.5-minimal=2.5.2-2ubuntu4 python2.5=2.5.2-2ubuntu4

Revision history for this message
Ronald Portier (ronald-portier) said :
#4

This did the trick. I was able to downgrade without losing my other packages.

python-matplotlib is installed now and the openERP webserver up and running.

Thanks a lot!