Bug#581835: libc6: circular Pre-Depends loop caused by Depends: debconf

[Bill Allombert <ballombe@debian.org>]

Package: libc6
Version: 2.10.2-8
Severity: serious

Hello GNU Libc Maintainers,

libc6 now Depends on debconf. This creates a circular (pre)-dependency hell.
You can see it at <http://debian.semistable.com/dot/zlib1g_unstable.png>
Specifically: (->: Depends, =>: Pre-Depends)

libc6 -> debconf => perl-base => libc6
libc6 -> debconf => perl-base => dpkg => libc6

libc6         Depends: debconf,
debconf   Pre-Depends: perl-base,
perl-base Pre-Depends: libc6 (>= 2.4), dpkg (>= 1.14.20)
dpkg:     Pre-Depends: libc6 (>= 2.3)

Pre-Depends loops breaks upgrade.

There is also an unrelated circular dependency on libgcc1.

I note that the new Depends on debconf is not mentionned in the
changelog so maybe it is unintentional.

Cheers,
-- 
Bill. <ballombe@debian.org>

Imagine a large red swirl here.