Recent update asks: Please add your user to the brlapi group

Scotty_Trees · November 24, 2021, 5:50pm

Greetings lovely community,

Just ran an update today and noticed this interesting message today. Any thoughts?

( 4/40) upgrading brltty                           [-----------------------] 100%
Please add your user to the brlapi group.

When I check what the package is needed for, it appears it’s used by Gnome’s Orca screen reader for individuals with visual impairment or blindness. I can’t say I’ve ever needed my screen read to me, so I’m assuming I can just safely ignore this message? I don’t have any problem adding my user to the bflapi group if needed, just not sure if/how I need to do that is all. Thanks for any help, always appreciated!

[scott@endeavourOS ~]$ pacman -Qi brltty
Name            : brltty
Version         : 6.4-2
Description     : Braille display driver for Linux/Unix
Architecture    : x86_64
URL             : https://brltty.app
Licenses        : LGPL2.1
Groups          : None
Provides        : libbrlapi.so=0.8-64
Depends On      : bluez-libs  gcc-libs  glibc  liblouis  libspeechd  pcre2
                  polkit  tcl  libasound.so=2-64  libdbus-1.so=3-64
                  libexpat.so=1-64  libgio-2.0.so=0-64  libglib-2.0.so=0-64
                  libgobject-2.0.so=0-64  libicuuc.so=70-64  libgpm.so=2-64
                  libncursesw.so=6-64  libsystemd.so=0-64
Optional Deps   : at-spi2-core: X11/GNOME Apps accessibility [installed]
                  atk: ATK bridge for X11/GNOME accessibility [installed]
                  espeak-ng: espeak-ng driver
                  java-runtime: Java support [installed]
                  libxaw: X11 support [installed]
                  libxt: X11 support [installed]
                  libx11: for xbrlapi [installed]
                  libxfixes: for xbrlapi [installed]
                  libxtst: for xbrlapi [installed]
                  ocaml: OCaml support
                  python: Python support [installed]
                  speech-dispatcher: speech-dispatcher driver [installed]
Required By     : orca
Optional For    : qemu
Conflicts With  : None
Replaces        : None
Installed Size  : 8.35 MiB
Packager        : Felix Yan <felixonmars@archlinux.org>
Build Date      : Sun 21 Nov 2021 07:08:33 PM EST
Install Date    : Wed 24 Nov 2021 12:27:22 PM EST
Install Reason  : Installed as a dependency for another package
Install Script  : Yes
Validated By    : Signature

[scott@endeavourOS ~]$

Here’s my full update log via yay if that helps at all.

[scott@endeavourOS ~]$ yay
[sudo] password for scott: 
:: Synchronizing package databases...
 core                  136.5 KiB   122 KiB/s 00:01 [-----------------------] 100%
 extra                1605.5 KiB   649 KiB/s 00:02 [-----------------------] 100%
 community               5.8 MiB   571 KiB/s 00:10 [-----------------------] 100%
 multilib              149.8 KiB  85.5 KiB/s 00:02 [-----------------------] 100%
 endeavouros            22.9 KiB  19.6 KiB/s 00:01 [-----------------------] 100%
:: Starting full system upgrade...
resolving dependencies...
looking for conflicting packages...

warning: insufficient columns available for table display
Packages (40) boost-libs-1.76.0-2  brltty-6.4-2  ca-certificates-mozilla-3.72-2
              darktable-2:3.6.1-3  electron11-11.5.0-3  electron14-14.2.0-2
              enchant-2.3.1-2  evolution-data-server-3.42.1-3  freerdp-2:2.4.1-2
              harfbuzz-3.1.1-2  harfbuzz-icu-3.1.1-2  icu-70.1-1  libcdr-0.1.7-3
              libe-book-0.1.3-10  libical-3.0.11-2  libmspub-0.1.4-11
              libphonenumber-8.12.36-2  libqxp-0.0.2-7
              libreoffice-fresh-7.2.2-4  libretro-shaders-slang-854-1
              libsynctex-2021.58686-4  liburcu-0.13.0-1  libvisio-0.1.7-6
              libxml2-2.9.12-3  libzmf-0.0.2-11  nodejs-17.1.0-2  nss-3.72-2
              qt5-base-5.15.2+kde+r259-1  raptor-2.0.15-17  smbclient-4.15.2-3
              tepl-6.00.0-3  tracker-2.3.6+7+gb27396252-3
              tracker-miners-2.3.5+2+gec09554af-4  tracker3-3.2.1-2
              tracker3-miners-3.2.1-2  vte-common-0.66.1-2  vte3-0.66.1-2
              webkit2gtk-2.34.1-3  webkit2gtk-4.1-2.34.1-3  xfsprogs-5.14.0-1

Total Download Size:    390.28 MiB
Total Installed Size:  1348.37 MiB
Net Upgrade Size:        -2.35 MiB

:: Proceed with installation? [Y/n] 
:: Retrieving packages...
 smbclient-4.15.2...     6.9 MiB   116 KiB/s 01:01 [-----------------------] 100%
 icu-70.1-1-x86_64      10.7 MiB   142 KiB/s 01:17 [-----------------------] 100%
 darktable-2:3.6....     5.0 MiB  94.8 KiB/s 00:55 [-----------------------] 100%
 nodejs-17.1.0-2-...     8.8 MiB  72.4 KiB/s 02:05 [-----------------------] 100%
 evolution-data-s...     4.5 MiB  88.1 KiB/s 00:52 [-----------------------] 100%
 brltty-6.4-2-x86_64  1607.5 KiB   148 KiB/s 00:11 [-----------------------] 100%
 boost-libs-1.76....     2.3 MiB  93.9 KiB/s 00:25 [-----------------------] 100%
 qt5-base-5.15.2+...    13.0 MiB  93.8 KiB/s 02:22 [-----------------------] 100%
 libphonenumber-8...     2.2 MiB  80.3 KiB/s 00:28 [-----------------------] 100%
 freerdp-2:2.4.1-...  1594.9 KiB   117 KiB/s 00:14 [-----------------------] 100%
 libxml2-2.9.12-3...  1337.4 KiB  94.7 KiB/s 00:14 [-----------------------] 100%
 nss-3.72-2-x86_64    1572.8 KiB  84.9 KiB/s 00:19 [-----------------------] 100%
 tracker-2.3.6+7+...   921.8 KiB   200 KiB/s 00:05 [-----------------------] 100%
 libcdr-0.1.7-3-x...   944.0 KiB   126 KiB/s 00:08 [-----------------------] 100%
 libe-book-0.1.3-...   726.8 KiB   198 KiB/s 00:04 [-----------------------] 100%
 xfsprogs-5.14.0-...  1074.3 KiB  89.1 KiB/s 00:12 [-----------------------] 100%
 tracker3-3.2.1-2...   692.0 KiB   119 KiB/s 00:06 [-----------------------] 100%
 harfbuzz-3.1.1-2...   920.7 KiB   107 KiB/s 00:09 [-----------------------] 100%
 tracker3-miners-...   686.7 KiB  84.3 KiB/s 00:08 [-----------------------] 100%
 libvisio-0.1.7-6...   632.0 KiB  79.0 KiB/s 00:08 [-----------------------] 100%
 tracker-miners-2...   502.4 KiB   100 KiB/s 00:05 [-----------------------] 100%
 libical-3.0.11-2...   622.2 KiB  90.8 KiB/s 00:07 [-----------------------] 100%
 webkit2gtk-2.34....    23.2 MiB   135 KiB/s 02:56 [-----------------------] 100%
 vte3-0.66.1-2-x86_64  368.4 KiB   179 KiB/s 00:02 [-----------------------] 100%
 ca-certificates-...   337.3 KiB   178 KiB/s 00:02 [-----------------------] 100%
 libqxp-0.0.2-7-x...   305.3 KiB   215 KiB/s 00:01 [-----------------------] 100%
 tepl-6.00.0-3-x86_64  213.0 KiB   162 KiB/s 00:01 [-----------------------] 100%
 libzmf-0.0.2-11-...   174.3 KiB   163 KiB/s 00:01 [-----------------------] 100%
 liburcu-0.13.0-1...   126.3 KiB   200 KiB/s 00:01 [-----------------------] 100%
 enchant-2.3.1-2-...    53.2 KiB   145 KiB/s 00:00 [-----------------------] 100%
 libsynctex-2021....    51.8 KiB  79.2 KiB/s 00:01 [-----------------------] 100%
 vte-common-0.66....     7.2 KiB  47.0 KiB/s 00:00 [-----------------------] 100%
 harfbuzz-icu-3.1...     7.6 KiB  46.9 KiB/s 00:00 [-----------------------] 100%
 libmspub-0.1.4-1...   466.2 KiB  75.4 KiB/s 00:06 [-----------------------] 100%
 raptor-2.0.15-17...   453.4 KiB  73.9 KiB/s 00:06 [-----------------------] 100%
 webkit2gtk-4.1-2...    23.5 MiB   129 KiB/s 03:07 [-----------------------] 100%
 electron11-11.5....    46.9 MiB   200 KiB/s 04:00 [-----------------------] 100%
 libretro-shaders...    34.7 MiB   137 KiB/s 04:19 [-----------------------] 100%
 electron14-14.2....    50.9 MiB   197 KiB/s 04:24 [-----------------------] 100%
 libreoffice-fres...   141.5 MiB   358 KiB/s 06:45 [-----------------------] 100%
 Total (40/40)         390.3 MiB   988 KiB/s 06:45 [-----------------------] 100%
(40/40) checking keys in keyring                   [-----------------------] 100%
(40/40) checking package integrity                 [-----------------------] 100%
(40/40) loading package files                      [-----------------------] 100%
(40/40) checking for file conflicts                [-----------------------] 100%
(40/40) checking available disk space              [-----------------------] 100%
:: Processing package changes...
( 1/40) upgrading icu                              [-----------------------] 100%
( 2/40) upgrading boost-libs                       [-----------------------] 100%
( 3/40) upgrading ca-certificates-mozilla          [-----------------------] 100%
( 4/40) upgrading brltty                           [-----------------------] 100%
Please add your user to the brlapi group.
( 5/40) upgrading tracker3                         [-----------------------] 100%
( 6/40) upgrading libxml2                          [-----------------------] 100%
( 7/40) upgrading harfbuzz                         [-----------------------] 100%
( 8/40) upgrading raptor                           [-----------------------] 100%
( 9/40) upgrading darktable                        [-----------------------] 100%
(10/40) upgrading nss                              [-----------------------] 100%
(11/40) upgrading electron11                       [-----------------------] 100%
(12/40) upgrading electron14                       [-----------------------] 100%
(13/40) upgrading enchant                          [-----------------------] 100%
(14/40) upgrading libical                          [-----------------------] 100%
(15/40) upgrading libphonenumber                   [-----------------------] 100%
(16/40) upgrading harfbuzz-icu                     [-----------------------] 100%
(17/40) upgrading webkit2gtk                       [-----------------------] 100%
(18/40) upgrading evolution-data-server            [-----------------------] 100%
(19/40) upgrading freerdp                          [-----------------------] 100%
(20/40) upgrading libcdr                           [-----------------------] 100%
(21/40) upgrading libe-book                        [-----------------------] 100%
(22/40) upgrading libmspub                         [-----------------------] 100%
(23/40) upgrading libqxp                           [-----------------------] 100%
(24/40) upgrading libvisio                         [-----------------------] 100%
(25/40) upgrading libzmf                           [-----------------------] 100%
(26/40) upgrading libreoffice-fresh                [-----------------------] 100%
(27/40) upgrading libretro-shaders-slang           [-----------------------] 100%
(28/40) upgrading libsynctex                       [-----------------------] 100%
(29/40) upgrading nodejs                           [-----------------------] 100%
(30/40) upgrading qt5-base                         [-----------------------] 100%
(31/40) upgrading smbclient                        [-----------------------] 100%
(32/40) upgrading tepl                             [-----------------------] 100%
(33/40) upgrading tracker                          [-----------------------] 100%
(34/40) upgrading tracker-miners                   [-----------------------] 100%
(35/40) upgrading tracker3-miners                  [-----------------------] 100%
(36/40) upgrading vte-common                       [-----------------------] 100%
(37/40) upgrading vte3                             [-----------------------] 100%
(38/40) upgrading webkit2gtk-4.1                   [-----------------------] 100%
(39/40) installing liburcu                         [-----------------------] 100%
(40/40) upgrading xfsprogs                         [-----------------------] 100%
:: Running post-transaction hooks...
( 1/11) Creating system user accounts...
( 2/11) Reloading system manager configuration...
( 3/11) Creating temporary files...
( 4/11) Reloading device manager configuration...
( 5/11) Arming ConditionNeedsUpdate...
( 6/11) Rebuilding certificate stores...
( 7/11) Compiling GSettings XML schema files...
( 8/11) Updating icon theme caches...
( 9/11) Checking which packages need to be rebuilt
foreign	fsearch
(10/11) Updating the desktop file MIME type cache...
(11/11) Updating the MIME type database...
:: Searching databases for updates...
:: Searching AUR for updates...
 -> Flagged Out Of Date AUR Packages:  gdm-prime  libgdm-prime
:: 1 Packages to upgrade.
1  aur/archlinux-appstream-data-pamac  20211018-1 -> 1:20211122-1
==> Packages to exclude: (eg: "1 2 3", "1-3", "^4" or repo name)
==> 
:: Checking for conflicts...
:: Checking for inner conflicts...
[Aur:1]  archlinux-appstream-data-pamac-1:20211122-1

  1 archlinux-appstream-data-pamac   (Installed) (Build Files Exist)
==> Packages to cleanBuild?
==> [N]one [A]ll [Ab]ort [I]nstalled [No]tInstalled or (1 2 3, 1-3, ^4)
==> 
:: (1/1) Downloaded PKGBUILD: archlinux-appstream-data-pamac
  1 archlinux-appstream-data-pamac   (Installed) (Build Files Exist)
==> Diffs to show?
==> [N]one [A]ll [Ab]ort [I]nstalled [No]tInstalled or (1 2 3, 1-3, ^4)
==> 
:: (1/1) Parsing SRCINFO: archlinux-appstream-data-pamac
==> Making package: archlinux-appstream-data-pamac 1:20211122-1 (Wed 24 Nov 2021 12:30:21 PM EST)
==> Retrieving sources...
  -> Downloading core-20211122.xml.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100   370  100   370    0     0    155      0  0:00:02  0:00:02 --:--:--   155
  -> Downloading core-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100    29  100    29    0     0     60      0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:--    60
  -> Downloading core-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100  1387  100  1387    0     0   3050      0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:--  3048
  -> Downloading core-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100    29  100    29    0     0     64      0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:--    64
  -> Downloading extra-20211122.xml.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100 3015k  100 3015k    0     0   675k      0  0:00:04  0:00:04 --:--:--  715k
  -> Downloading extra-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100  865k  100  865k    0     0   496k      0  0:00:01  0:00:01 --:--:--  496k
  -> Downloading extra-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100 1362k  100 1362k    0     0   465k      0  0:00:02  0:00:02 --:--:--  465k
  -> Downloading extra-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100 3026k  100 3026k    0     0   725k      0  0:00:04  0:00:04 --:--:--  725k
  -> Downloading community-20211122.xml.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100 1838k  100 1838k    0     0   696k      0  0:00:02  0:00:02 --:--:--  696k
  -> Downloading community-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100 1701k  100 1701k    0     0   748k      0  0:00:02  0:00:02 --:--:--  748k
  -> Downloading community-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100 3206k  100 3206k    0     0   720k      0  0:00:04  0:00:04 --:--:--  720k
  -> Downloading community-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100 5360k  100 5360k    0     0   948k      0  0:00:05  0:00:05 --:--:-- 1057k
  -> Downloading multilib-20211122.xml.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100  2753  100  2753    0     0   5634      0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:--  5641
  -> Downloading multilib-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100  7220  100  7220    0     0  15930      0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 15903
  -> Downloading multilib-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100 24121  100 24121    0     0  25558      0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 25551
  -> Downloading multilib-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz...
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100 29736  100 29736    0     0  51794      0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 51804
==> Validating source files with sha256sums...
    core-20211122.xml.gz ... Passed
    core-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    core-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    core-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    extra-20211122.xml.gz ... Passed
    extra-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    extra-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    extra-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    community-20211122.xml.gz ... Passed
    community-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    community-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    community-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    multilib-20211122.xml.gz ... Passed
    multilib-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    multilib-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    multilib-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
==> Making package: archlinux-appstream-data-pamac 1:20211122-1 (Wed 24 Nov 2021 12:30:57 PM EST)
==> Checking runtime dependencies...
==> Checking buildtime dependencies...
==> Retrieving sources...
  -> Found core-20211122.xml.gz
  -> Found core-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz
  -> Found core-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz
  -> Found core-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz
  -> Found extra-20211122.xml.gz
  -> Found extra-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz
  -> Found extra-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz
  -> Found extra-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz
  -> Found community-20211122.xml.gz
  -> Found community-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz
  -> Found community-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz
  -> Found community-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz
  -> Found multilib-20211122.xml.gz
  -> Found multilib-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz
  -> Found multilib-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz
  -> Found multilib-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz
==> Validating source files with sha256sums...
    core-20211122.xml.gz ... Passed
    core-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    core-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    core-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    extra-20211122.xml.gz ... Passed
    extra-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    extra-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    extra-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    community-20211122.xml.gz ... Passed
    community-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    community-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    community-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    multilib-20211122.xml.gz ... Passed
    multilib-icons-48x48-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    multilib-icons-64x64-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
    multilib-icons-128x128-20211122.tar.gz ... Passed
==> Removing existing $srcdir/ directory...
==> Extracting sources...
  -> Extracting core-20211122.xml.gz with gzip
  -> Extracting extra-20211122.xml.gz with gzip
  -> Extracting community-20211122.xml.gz with gzip
  -> Extracting multilib-20211122.xml.gz with gzip
==> Sources are ready.
==> Making package: archlinux-appstream-data-pamac 1:20211122-1 (Wed 24 Nov 2021 12:31:00 PM EST)
==> Checking runtime dependencies...
==> Checking buildtime dependencies...
==> WARNING: Using existing $srcdir/ tree
==> Entering fakeroot environment...
==> Starting package()...
==> Tidying install...
  -> Removing libtool files...
  -> Purging unwanted files...
  -> Removing static library files...
  -> Stripping unneeded symbols from binaries and libraries...
  -> Compressing man and info pages...
==> Checking for packaging issues...
==> Creating package "archlinux-appstream-data-pamac"...
  -> Generating .PKGINFO file...
  -> Generating .BUILDINFO file...
  -> Generating .MTREE file...
  -> Compressing package...
==> Leaving fakeroot environment.
==> Finished making: archlinux-appstream-data-pamac 1:20211122-1 (Wed 24 Nov 2021 12:31:27 PM EST)
==> Cleaning up...
[sudo] password for scott: 
loading packages...
resolving dependencies...
looking for conflicting packages...

Package (1)                     Old Version  New Version   Net Change

archlinux-appstream-data-pamac  20211018-1   1:20211122-1    0.03 MiB

Total Installed Size:  20.21 MiB
Net Upgrade Size:       0.03 MiB

:: Proceed with installation? [Y/n] 
(1/1) checking keys in keyring                     [-----------------------] 100%
(1/1) checking package integrity                   [-----------------------] 100%
(1/1) loading package files                        [-----------------------] 100%
(1/1) checking for file conflicts                  [-----------------------] 100%
(1/1) checking available disk space                [-----------------------] 100%
:: Processing package changes...
(1/1) upgrading archlinux-appstream-data-pamac     [-----------------------] 100%
:: Running post-transaction hooks...
(1/3) Arming ConditionNeedsUpdate...
(2/3) fix appstream datas for pamac
(3/3) Checking which packages need to be rebuilt
[scott@endeavourOS ~]$

keybreak · November 24, 2021, 5:53pm

Looks like you’re fine then

Scotty_Trees · November 24, 2021, 5:56pm

Hey, you’re fine too!
I just wanted to double check to make sure it’s fine to simply ignore it, one never knows something unless they ask. Thanks for the quick response and encouragement, much appreciated mate!

dalto · November 24, 2021, 6:13pm

Have you considered:

pacman -Rc brltty

pebcak · November 24, 2021, 6:14pm

Or just remove orca if you don’t need an screen-reader?
If that is not required by something else

Scotty_Trees · November 24, 2021, 6:28pm

[scott@endeavourOS ~]$ pacman -Qi orca
Name            : orca
Version         : 41.0-1
Description     : Screen reader for individuals who are blind or visually
                  impaired
Architecture    : any
URL             : https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Orca
Licenses        : LGPL
Groups          : gnome
Provides        : None
Depends On      : gtk3  at-spi2-atk  python-atspi  python-dbus  python-xdg
                  speech-dispatcher  liblouis  brltty  xorg-xmodmap
                  gsettings-desktop-schemas  gst-plugins-base  gst-plugins-good
Optional Deps   : None
Required By     : None
Optional For    : None
Conflicts With  : None
Replaces        : None
Installed Size  : 15.42 MiB
Packager        : Jan Alexander Steffens (heftig) <heftig@archlinux.org>
Build Date      : Mon 08 Nov 2021 03:14:23 PM EST
Install Date    : Wed 10 Nov 2021 01:04:14 PM EST
Install Reason  : Explicitly installed
Install Script  : No
Validated By    : Signature

[scott@endeavourOS ~]$

It’s not required by anything, so it’s removal should be safe enough. But it doesn’t really take up much space and I wouldn’t notice any difference with it uninstalled. I also don’t want to run the risk (however small) of borking any accessibility features in the future, in case I do want to use them OR more likely simply to test them in future updates for bugs.

@dalto @pebcak I think I’ll just leave them alone for now, while they sit in the dark realms of my package abyss, idling by until that fateful day when they may be called upon

dalto · November 24, 2021, 6:30pm

I would just say that, generally speaking, having less packages installed makes your system easier to maintain long-term. In addition to the fact that you stop getting updates for software you aren’t using, you are more likely to avoid weird dependency issues that could come later.

Scotty_Trees · November 24, 2021, 6:44pm

Yeah I totally agree with you on that having less packages would be easier over time to maintain since there’s less chance of things going wonky. But for myself, I’ve always liked to have the base system stay intact as it was installed and intended if that makes sense. I generally only want to build/add upon things, not removing things unless they are problematic. The only thing I’ve removed from Gnome that I can think of off the top of my head is Gnome Terminal because I prefer Tilix terminal and I don’t see a need for more than one terminal.

This sounds like something I’ll inevitably experience the longer I’m using an Arch-based system.

In any case, If either of these packages were giving me issues now, I’d report the issues and/or remove them, but since they are just collecting dust right now, I see no harm. Plus, since they are part of the default Gnome install, if they ever do cause any issues for whatever reason, I can report those issues to the devs so the issue can get fixed for all users. Always trying to help out in my own small part after all. But I thank you for opening my eyes and mind to the other possibilities of how to utilize my system in ways that I wouldn’t normally think of

Kresimir · November 24, 2021, 6:54pm

of course

dalto · November 24, 2021, 7:02pm

Are you sure that they are? It looks in order to have those added you have to select “Accessibility Tools”

See:
https://github.com/endeavouros-team/EndeavourOS-calamares/blob/main/calamares/files/netinstall.yaml

Scotty_Trees · November 24, 2021, 9:20pm

Hmm, I can’t quite recall if I had selected Accessibility Tools [[…goes off to grab some install logs…]] or not during the install (probably did), but my apologies I didn’t mean the default EndeavourOS install per se, I meant to say like the “default” Gnome install that I’m used to which includes all things Gnome. “Default” was an inaccurate word to use, so sorry for the mix up on that.

Now I’m not an expert logger but this is what I did install when going with the Gnome online install:

 :: Synchronizing package databases...
 core downloading...
 extra downloading...
 community downloading...
 multilib downloading...
 endeavouros downloading...
:: There are 64 members in group gnome:
:: Repository extra
   1) baobab  2) cheese  3) eog  4) epiphany  5) evince  6) file-roller  7) gdm  8) gedit  9) gnome-backgrounds  10) gnome-books  11) gnome-calculator  12) gnome-calendar  13) gnome-characters  14) gnome-clocks  15) gnome-color-manager  16) gnome-contacts  17) gnome-control-center  18) gnome-disk-utility  19) gnome-documents  20) gnome-font-viewer  21) gnome-keyring  22) gnome-logs  23) gnome-maps  24) gnome-menus  25) gnome-music  26) gnome-photos  27) gnome-remote-desktop  28) gnome-screenshot  29) gnome-session  30) gnome-settings-daemon  31) gnome-shell  32) gnome-shell-extensions  33) gnome-software  34) gnome-system-monitor  35) gnome-terminal  36) gnome-themes-extra  37) gnome-user-docs  38) gnome-user-share  39) gnome-video-effects  40) gnome-weather  41) grilo-plugins  42) gvfs  43) gvfs-afc  44) gvfs-goa  45) gvfs-google  46) gvfs-gphoto2  47) gvfs-mtp  48) gvfs-nfs  49) gvfs-smb  50) mutter  51) nautilus  52) orca  53) rygel  54) sushi  55) totem  56) tracker  57) tracker-miners  58) tracker3  59) tracker3-miners  60) vino  61) xdg-user-dirs-gtk  62) yelp
:: Repository community
   63) gnome-boxes  64) simple-scan

I couldn’t quite figure out if I picked to install it or if it was indeed installed by default, but that was the one case in which I found orca (is #52 on the list above btw) and searching for brltty in my install log didn’t seem obvious to me how it was installed.

Edit: Just to note this install was done with the April ISO btw, so things may or may not have changed since then.

If anyone is curious, for my full EndeavourOS online Gnome install log:

https://clbin.com/MHAKP

dalto · November 24, 2021, 9:33pm

lol…wtf is orca doing in the gnome group?

It is a dependency of orca

Scotty_Trees · November 24, 2021, 9:43pm

I guess that explains why I have it

dalto · November 24, 2021, 9:45pm

That being said, new installs no longer install the entire gnome group so new installs won’t get it unless they explicitly install it.

Scotty_Trees · November 24, 2021, 9:54pm

The mystery has been solved!

The Accessibility Tools (you mentioned here) which aren’t selected by default include orca, mousetweaks, and espeak-ng

I only have orca installed on my system and since it was part of the Gnome group in the past, I think I can safely say that I didn’t install the Accessibility Tools when I originally installed my system, otherwise I’d probably have those additional packages as well.

In any case, thanks for the extra information, I’ve bookmarked that github Calamares netinstall page, might come in handy again sometime in the future

joekamprad · November 24, 2021, 9:56pm

Summary

name: “GNOME-Desktop”
description: “GNOME Desktop - designed to put you in control and get things done.”
hidden: false
selected: false
critical: true
packages:
- adwaita-icon-theme
- arc-gtk-theme-eos
- arc-x-icons-theme
- eog
- evince
- file-roller
- gdm
- gedit
- gnome-control-center
- gnome-disk-utility
- gnome-keyring
- gnome-nettool
- gnome-screenshot
- gnome-shell
- gnome-terminal
- gnome-themes-extra
- gnome-tweaks
- gnome-usage
- gvfs
- gvfs-afc
- gvfs-gphoto2
- gvfs-mtp
- gvfs-nfs
- gvfs-smb
- nautilus
- nautilus-sendto
- sushi
- totem
- xdg-user-dirs-gtk

one reason not to use the groups to install DE on arch

Scotty_Trees · November 24, 2021, 10:06pm

That sure is one minimal install there, compared to mine from the April iso

joekamprad · November 24, 2021, 10:32pm

yea i do a great minimization task… to avoid long install times and indeed because most of the stuff is not needed to run a full Desktop

Scotty_Trees · November 24, 2021, 10:40pm

Even though I like to have most of the Gnome apps installed, with a few exceptions, I think it’s best to be as minimal as possible for the reasons you mentioned since that’s probably a lot easier for you all to maintain as well as making it easier and simpler for users to get up and running as soon as possible from a fresh install. I haven’t done a fresh install since I first installed EndeavourOS months ago, but I may be tempted to do a fresh install to give btrfs or more likely ZFS a try when the installer supports it