Bug#544481: Bug#531002: Bug#544481: apticron: apt-get dist-upgrade pulling required packages from unstable

[Goswin von Brederlow <goswin-v-b@web.de>]

Tiago Bortoletto Vaz <tiago@debian.org> writes:

> Hi all,
>
> On Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 03:01:14PM +0200, Goswin von Brederlow wrote:
>> David Kalnischkies <kalnischkies+debian@gmail.com> writes:
> [...]
>> >> For apticron: can this be worked around or maybe just document ways the
>> >> user can prevent it from happening?
>> > By popular depend (or by us for debugging proposes) is a little cheat option
>> > implemented in apt (currently only in experimental) which can control the
>> > essential flag:
>> > pkgCacheGen::Essential=all|native|installed|none
>> > (you need to build the cache with this option!)
>> > I do not recommend to use nor do i will support the usage of this option
>> > (and because of that it is also not documented) but some people really
>> > thing it is important, so i don't want to stay in their way to break their
>> > system if they really want to do that, as i am bored by the whole discussion
>> > for a long while now - especially because this discussion generated far more
>> > mails than debian includes essential packages? I really thing we have
>> > better things to do than thinking about transition handling for ~30 packages?
>> 
>> And most cases aren't about a transition but about maintaining a mixed setup.
>> And in a mixed setup the essential debs from all releases must be
>> installed.
>
> From apticron side:
>
> I support the opinion that once the user has testing/unstable repositories in a
> stable system it's reasonable to consider installing the essential packages
> from those Debian suites. So IMO the current issue is not a bug in apt-get.
>
> However, from apticron's description:
>
> "...sends daily emails about pending package updates such as security updates".
>
> So, warning the user about how to proper handle other stuff in his/her mixed
> system is not apticron's role. Also, sending emails about pending updates
> related to packages which are not even installed is definitely a bug in
> apticron because it makes user confused. But as it is not a grave bug and it's
> a kind of exception caused by (IMO a feature, not a bug of) another tool, I
> propose to insert a BUGS section in apticron's manpage explaining such issue,
> pointing out this bug report and giving the user options (like puting packages
> on hold or installing them) in order to avoid those annoying emails from
> apticron.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Best regards and thanks for your time here,

Since not having the essential packages installed can cause random
breakage I think it is good to notify the user about it. Just explain it
better if you feel it is confusing.

MfG
        Goswin