Bug#36972: dpkg: dpkg can remoev vital files/symlinks without warning adminitrator

[Steve Lamb <morpheus@rpglink.com>]

Package: dpkg
Version: 1.4.1.1
Severity: Critical

    While updating listar from .118a to .121a dpkg removed symlinks which
were vital for listar to operate.  This is because the maintainer had
changed how his configuration worked and did not warn the administrator in
the upgrade that a major change was forthcoming.

    Regardless of the semantics of this issue it raises the concertn that
dpkg is deleting files/directories and symlinks based on the false
assumption that if the maintainer is not using the links/files/directories,
neither is (or should) the individual administrators.  This can lead to any
package, at any time, breaking based on such a false assumption.

    It is my opinion that dpkg, on an upgrade, should *NOT* remove any
file/directory/link without first prompting the maintainer in the same
manner that it prompts for action when it comes to the configuration file.

-- System Information
Debian Release: potato
Kernel Version: Linux teleute 2.2.6 #4 Sat Apr 24 23:07:04 PDT 1999 i586 unknown

Versions of the packages dpkg depends on:
hi  libc6           2.0.7.19981211 GNU C Library: shared libraries
hi  libncurses4     4.2-3          Shared libraries for terminal handling
hi  libstdc++2.9    2.91.61-1      The GNU stdc++ library (egcs version)