So, I try to delete some applications that I really don't need (Or that I've read reviews and there are better alternatives). But then I got on some applications that tell me "If you uninstall "X Application", future updates will not include new items in the Ubuntu desktop systme set"
What does that mean? It's still safe to delete it?
I'm running Ubuntu 12.10 64-bit.
Is there anyway to remove the stuff I don't need without messing everything else up?
Each Ubuntu derivative has its own "desktop". For example,
Each of these "desktops" is a metapackage, decribed in detail in MetaPackages. These metapackages contain nothing but a list of software that give you the corresponding desktop experience. Installing lubuntu-desktop, for example, on Unity, will pull in all the software associated with Lubuntu and afford you the choice of running either Unity or Lubuntu at the time of logging in.
There are times, when, as you have observed, that you want to delete a piece of software for whatever reason and you maybe be warned that doing so will remove ubuntu-desktop (or some other desktop depending on your environment.)
In fact, Synaptic has this caution regarding the ubuntu-desktop:
This package depends on all of the packages in the Ubuntu desktop system
It is also used to help ensure proper upgrades, so it is recommended that it not be removed.
Based on the Synaptic comment, removing the ubuntu-desktop now may be detrimental at some future date.
On the other hand, Synaptic says the same thing about lubuntu-desktop whereas community documentation on Lubuntu assures Lubuntu users that there's nothing to fear.
When you want to remove a program from lubuntu, you may be told that by doing so it will remove lubuntu-desktop. The package lubuntu-desktop is only used for the installation of lubuntu and can safely be removed.
Lubuntu-desktop is what is called a meta-package which, simply put, is just a list of what to install. It is a design decision that all packages included in lubuntu-desktop depend on it, so as to be able to use --no-install-recommends option when the initial installation occurs, thus preventing non-essential programs being installed.
The lubuntu-desktop would just need adding back in for the update from 10.04 to 10.10, after that it can be safely removed again.
Even though the quote above refers to 10.04 and 10.10, more recent posts elsewhere have similar opinions. You could look at [Lubuntu-desktop] lubuntu-desktop metapackage - Recommends vs Dependencies and the responses. Again, IMO, even though the desktop being talked about is Lubuntu, the same observations apply to Unity.
In my case, I no longer have lubuntu-desktop because I chose to remove a package of games, aces-of-penguins, and lubuntu-desktop went with it. I must mention that I will be doing a clean install from 12.10 to 13.04 and not an upgrade.
You might want to install the Synaptic package manager and use that. It give you more granular control for removing packages, as well as more information about what additional dependent packages will also be removed.
apt-get install -s package_nameand hit enter. Then look at the screen output to get an idea. Here, you'll put the actual package name instead of "package_name" and use "remove" or "purge" instead of "install" (if you want to get rid of software). – Feb 16 '13 at 17:14