bugGNU Octave - Bugs: bug #67753, "pkg describe dynare"...

 
 

bug #67753: "pkg describe dynare" does not work if Dynare is not already installed

Submitter:  None
Submitted:  Mon 01 Dec 2025 08:17:35 PM UTC
   
 
Category:  Octave Function Severity:  1 - Wish
Priority:  3 - Low Item Group:  Feature Request
Status:  Confirmed Assigned to:  None
Originator Name:  Originator Email:  -email is unavailable-
Open/Closed:  * Open Release:  * 10.3.0
Operating System:  * Any Fixed Release:  None
Planned Release:  None
* Mandatory Fields

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Discussion

Tue 02 Dec 2025 07:56:09 AM UTC, comment #3: 

With Octave dev the info is cached on local computer, so perhaps we can change `descrive` to read info from there.

I will think of a patch. Can we re-open the bug as "Feature request" perhaps?

Dmitri.
--

Dmitri A. Sergatskov <dasergatskov>
Tue 02 Dec 2025 07:49:47 AM UTC, comment #2: 

As an alternative, you could use the package index to get information about Octave packages before installing them:
https://packa ... s.octave.org/
(Or alternatively, when the server is busy - like right now:)
https://gnu-octav ... thub.io/packages/

Markus Mützel <mmuetzel>
Group administrator
Mon 01 Dec 2025 09:22:56 PM UTC, comment #1: 

Function is behaving as designed. see below. octave and in particular the pkg function does not maintain a local copy of information about packages it has not been exposed to, as it can install any package from any source.  closing report.


>> help pkg
...

'describe’
Show a short description of installed packages. With the option "-verbose" also list functions provided by the package...

...


Nicholas Jankowski <nrjank>
Group Member
Mon 01 Dec 2025 08:17:35 PM UTC, original submission:  

"pkg describe" should print a package description so that the user can read whether they want to install it or not. But "pkg describe" only works on packages that are already installed, which defeats everything. This is like that horrible Nancy Pelosi saying "Let us pass this bill to find out what is in it".

Anonymous

 

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    History

    Follow 9 latest changes.

    Date Changed by Updated Field Previous Value => Replaced by
    2025-12-02 mmuetzel CategoryOctave Package Octave Function
        Severity3 - Normal 1 - Wish
        Priority5 - Normal 3 - Low
        Item GroupIncorrect Result Feature Request
        StatusInvalid / Not an Octave Bug Confirmed
        Open/ClosedClosed Open
        Operating SystemMicrosoft Windows Any
    2025-12-01 nrjank StatusNone Invalid / Not an Octave Bug
        Open/ClosedOpen Closed

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