Re: Dependencies
ydirson@a2points.com (Yann Dirson) wrote on 30.12.97 in <[🔎] 199712302253.XAA03950@ppp37.a2points.com>:
> > On 30 Dec 1997, eichin@kitten.gen.ma.us (Mark W. Eichin) wrote:
> >
> > > So, timezone (7.48-3) is installed, and "required", so dpkg won't
> > > remove it. timezones (2.06-1) is available, and "replaces/conflicts"
> > > timezone, but dpkg (1.4.0.19) won't replace it, even with
> > > auto-deconfigure. Is there a non-"force" way to handle this?
> >
> Robert D. Hilliard writes:
> > This is Bug#16260.
>
> Is this really a bug in timezones ? It seems quite similar to the
> problem I have myself (as the maintainer - never heard of anyone else
> speaking on this) while upgrading e2fsprogs to 1.10-9. I thought it
> might have been a bug in dpkg's dependency mechanism; I guess I
> reported that, but can't find out a copy in my folders, neither can I
> find it from the headers in "Unanswered pbs"...
>
> Does someone have an idea about that ?
I think I once had a similar problem where dpkg refused to remove an
essential package, and of course, forcing it didn't quite do the right
thing - dependencies by hand can be surprising. It's been too long; I
don't remember what it was.
It's one of the areas where, IMO, dpkg is missing functionality. We need a
way to replace even essential packages. Another long-standing problem
(tetex comes to mind) is that conflicts/replaces doesn't work with
multiple packages; various things don't work with virtual packages, and/or
not with versions; and there's no way to tell the user "you have installed
package X, that one's obsolete, you may want to replyce it with Y and Z".
Plus, dpkg isn't thorough enough with dependencies. This is what leads to
dselect install-configure-remove-install-configure-remove cycles, and
sometimes to installs breaking the system - dpkg doesn't take into account
how dependencies etc. change during package installation.
I'm sure I've missed some things.
MfG Kai
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