Bug#703366: RFH: apt-file -- search for files within Debian packages (command-line interface)

[Nick Black <nick.black@sprezzatech.com>]

i ought point out here that raptorial-file does not have "update" or "purge"
functionality. it seems to me that if the user has installed apt-file or
some equivalent, they're interested in the contents of Contents files, and
thus they ought be downloaded with apt updates. if they have not installed
it, they can't use the data anyway, so don't download them. this can be done
with apt hooks, no? and the first time it's installed it ought try to
download contents. apt-file(1) as stands is perfectly reasonable at the
update and purge task; we could gut it of "list"/"search" functionality,
rename it apt-contents-get or something, and call it from the aforementioned
hooks.

let me know if there's some reason why this is impossible (i do not yet
pretend to grasp APT's semantics in their full detail). otherwise, let me
know if you'd like me to proceed along this path, or who should do what, or
whatever. i'd love to solve the longstanding annoyance of "apt-file update".
i might be overlooking something obvious, though?