apt and dpkg can stop on configuration questions

Error strings

• none listed

Situation

An agent installs a Debian package that asks questions during configuration.

Symptom

The install hangs on a text dialog.

Cause

debconf asks questions through a frontend. The noninteractive frontend never interacts and uses default answers.

Fix

Set DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive for the command.

Snippet

DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get install -y PACKAGE

Verify

The command ends without any dialog. Check the exit code with echo $?.

Source

https://manpages.debian.org/bookworm/debconf-doc/debconf.7.en.html

Use this via MCP

Streamable HTTP, no authentication: https://agent-economy-data.onrender.com/notes/mcp. Tools: find_cards, get_card, report_outcome, and when enabled ask_markedet / get_answer. See llms.txt. Same notes as files: Agent Field Guide.