Bug#47319: Apt loops endlessly when package database screwed.

[David Damerell <djsd100@cam.ac.uk>]

Package: apt
Version: 0.3.12

I managed to get things into a rather strange state; I think it was
because I was using packages in 'unstable' from two different sources
of two different ages, and there was some kind of circular version
dependency.

Dpkg (1.4.1.8), when asked to do anything, exited with 'assertion
failed' (um, there was more to this error message, but I have to
confess that I didn't save it at the time and it only occurred to me
to report the bug later; it was something that suggested it had
recursed somewhere too many times).

Apt, on the other hand, sat consuming CPU after
Building Dependency Tree...
indefinitely. I would suggest it needs to perform the same sanity
checks as dpkg.

-- 
David Damerell, Computer Officer, Department of Chemistry, Cambridge
Work: djsd100@cam.ac.uk    Personal: damerell@chiark.greenend.org.uk