Bug#53156: apt: apt should have a way to put packages on hold

[tb@MIT.EDU (Thomas Bushnell, BSG)]

Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org> writes:

> 
> Thomas Bushnell BSG wrote:
> > I would like to be able to do
> > 
> > apt hold package-name
> > 
> > to put a package on hold.  Right now, the only way to do it is through
> > deselect or editing /var/lib/dpkg/status by hand.
> 
> echo "package-name hold" | dpkg --set-selections

I take it back; there are now two obscure ways to do it and one
obsolete way.

In fact, all of apt could be done with commands like this.  But
fortunately we have this really cool tool called apt that already
knows the magic incantations. ;-)

Seriously, this is a *wishlist* item.  I just think it would be a
useful addition to the program; I'd like it if it could stay on the
list until some enterprising hacker decides to add it to the code.