Re: Bug#32972: Apt gives scaring warning while removing required but obsolete packages
On Sat, 6 Feb 1999, Alexander Shumakovitch wrote:
> During my upgrade from hamm to slink using dselect-apt combination, I've got
> the following message:
> WARNING: The following essential packages will be removed
> This should NOT be done unless you know exactly what you are doing!
> slang0.99.38
>
> Although I was completely sure that slang0.99.38 is not in the distribution
> anymore, that warning forced me to press Ctrl-C, go to Select and to
> double-check that it's indeed obsolete. I believe some people could even
> abandon the installation after this. I guess, apt shouldn't warn about any
> packages being removed if they are "obsolete" (that said not in the
> distribution).
Sorry but no. APT is giving this warning not because slang itself is
essential but because something essential depends on it. The new APTv3 has
a more clearer indication of this.
What can happen is you can get the installation into a state where it is
forced to disable an essential package while it fiddles witht he slang*
packages and this can badly damage your installation!
Also, there is no real way to determine truely obsolete packages so this
warning will remain forever and the release notes will have to cover which
things can be removed safely -AFTER- everything has been upgraded.
Never, EVER -EVER- let that warning go by while it is doing other things,
that is seriously dangerous!
Jason
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