Matrix app installation error on FB 25.17 (debian trixie)

Support
1

Hi,

Fresh install of FB on debian trixie. Everything working except for Matrix install. Wondering if I should add bookworm repos and try again? Suggestions?

Here is the error output:

Error installing app: Apt command failed with return code: 100 Details

** **Error running action: plinth..install(app_id="matrixsynapse", packages=["matrix-synapse", "matrix-synapse-ldap3", "python3-psycopg2"], skip_recommends=false, force_configuration=null, reinstall=false, force_missing_configuration=false): RuntimeError("Apt command failed with return code: 100")** **Stdout:** **│ freedombox set on hold.** **│ Canceled hold on freedombox.** **Stderr:** **║ E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.** **║ E: The following information from --solver 3.0 may provide additional context:** **║ Unable to satisfy dependencies. Reached two conflicting decisions:** **║ 1. python3-rpds-py:amd64=0.28.0-1 is not selected for install** **║ 2. python3-rpds-py:amd64=0.28.0-1 is selected as an upgrade because:** **║ 1. matrix-synapse:amd64=1.143.0-2 is selected for install** **║ 2. matrix-synapse:amd64 Depends python3-rpds-py (>= 0.25.0)** **Action traceback:** **╞ File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/plinth/actions.py", line 504, in _privileged_call** **╞ return_values = func(*arguments['args'], **arguments['kwargs'])** **╞ File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/plinth/privileged/packages.py", line 69, in install** **╞ raise RuntimeError(** **╞ f'Apt command failed with return code: {returncode}')** **

2

Hi,

I’m not familiar with Matrix Synapse, as I don’t have it installed on my FreedomBox, so I don’t know if I’m the most qualified to answer this, but I’ll try to help.

Probably, by looking at the packages from the error, I see that matrix-synapse is coming from “forky” and requires a version of python3-rpds-py that is not available on “trixie”. It is also not available on “trixie-backports” yet.

Personally, I would wait for the developers to fix this, which might take some time. However, if Matrix Synapse is vital for your use case and you don’t mind trying things you could try something like the following:

Note: Mixing suites could break things.

So, if I had to find a solution, I suppose I’d check if other packages depend on python3-rpds-py and if not, I would pin the “forky” version of the package.

You could test if installing the python dependencies from “forky” would break things by doing from the command line:

apt-get -t forky -s install matrix-synapse

Source: [SOLVED] How to upgrade matrix-synapse from stable to buster-backports? - #2 by rgb

This will do a dry run and won’t install anything but you can see if the command succeeds or fails for some reason.

If it succeeds, you can consider running it for real by removing the -s option.

This, of course, would be a temporary fix and you should probably pin it with a apt “preferences” file. That said, since the package might be added to backports in the future, you could run the command manually when needed until it becomes available in trixe-backports.

On a different note, since you are asking for support, it would be very helpful for those trying to help you that you select the “Support” category. This will provide you with a template to present your issue, where it will show you information you can provide that might aid others to test and troubleshoot your issue with the same or similar environment to yours.

I hope this helps.

3

Hi,

Thank You Kindly for the info. I do realize that Matrix is a fast moving target in terms of its development cycle, which isn’t in tango with Debian releases. I suppose that will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future. So any Matrix install would be a bit more temporary relative to many other packages on FB. I’ve tried the backports but it appears to be a downgrade.

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I’ve changed the category to Support, thanks for letting me know.

I reckon its not worth the candle. Will come back to Matrix when things settle in a bit more. Thanks again for your reply.

1 Like
4

Has anyone managed to install Matrix on Trixie yet? Wondering if it’s worth trying what fefekrzr suggested since Matrix the main thing I use.

5

As I said before, I never used the Matrix app. I guess that, if you don’t mind experimenting and are pressed for time, you could take a snapshot before, try to install matrix-synapse from forky (or maybe sid?), as I mentioned above, and if it doesn’t work out, roll back the snapshot.

However, I’d wait for the fix to arrive. According to this merge request, it has already been fixed from the FreedomBox side. We just need to wait for the package maintainer to close the issue referenced in the merge request.

1 Like
6

Thanks for the info fefekrzr. Think I’ll just wait and install normally then :+1:

1 Like