Bug#529060: Hook scripts (Pre/Post-Invoke ..) should be able to know their context

[gator_ml@yahoo.de]

package: apt
severity: wishlist
I spent quite some time searching how to find out the package on
behalf of which a hook script configured via DPkg::Post-Invoke is
being run: I was sure, I must have overlooked something, until I
eventually looked into the sources ... 

Hooks like DPkg::Pre/Post-Invoke could be far more versatile and
efficient, if there was a simple way to find out the context they are
running in. Currently, there is a separate option
"DPkg::Pre-Install-Pkgs" (without a counterpart like
"Post-Install-Pkgs", see bug#107151). Imho, the most simple, useful
and compatible way would be to just provide a set of environment
variables describing the context (package name, action like
install/remove, for post-something: status, apt version ...) so
external programs being called by apt could find out what they need to
know without breaking any established interfaces. I personally was
originally looking for a way to always run a script after the kernel
has been upgraded, but I could think of many more uses ...

Regards,
               Peter