> I see (at least) two possibilities: > > 1. dpkg -s $PACKAGE > > 2. sed -n -e "/^Package: $PACKAGE$/,/^$/p" < /var/lib/dpkg/status > > The first is slow and the second fast, but I'm wary of using the > second in my code (what if the format of status changes?). Are my > fears justified? [I notice that bug uses the second...] That file won't change in the near future, you may safely rely on its format.