Debconf: unable to initialize frontend: Dialog

User Support General
1

I have a debian-11-minimal template that I pick&choose apt packages to install into. I set up that template’s locale settings, and other sysadmin stuff that I am familiar with.

However, when I use dom0 qvm-run method to install a package in that minimal template, I am getting “Debconf unable to initialize: Dialog” notification on the terminal:

(dom0) $ qvm-run --pass-io --user root mydebian 'apt install info'
[...some info messages regarding which packages are getting installed...]
debconf: unable to initialize frontend: Dialog
debconf: (TERM is not set, so the dialog frontend is not usable.)
debconf: falling back to frontend: Readline
debconf: unable to initialize frontend: Readline
debconf: (This frontend requires a controlling tty.)
debconf: falling back to frontend: Teletype
[...]

and then the package installation continues normally. The packages get installed. Good.

However, I am curious about this info message: can someone tell me what it is trying to say, and how can I get it stop nagging me?

2

Not curious enought to ask to one of your best friend (aka search engine) ? :slight_smile:
https://www.startpage.com/do/search?q=debconf+unable+to+initialize+frontend+Dialog

1 Like
3

holy shit you are a genius

4

Can you elaborate before I answer.
I’m not sure how I should take it ?
And I’m not sure you want actually read my answer!

I’m suggest you carefully choose your words, take your time to answer.

2 Likes