Bug#706353: /usr/bin/apt-cache: more descriptive installed size

[Daniel Hartwig <mandyke@gmail.com>]

Control: tags -1 + wontfix

On 29 April 2013 02:29, Ritesh Raj Sarraf <rrs@debian.org> wrote:
> Package: apt
> Version: 0.9.7.8
> Severity: wishlist
> File: /usr/bin/apt-cache
>
> Currently apt-cache reports the following:
>
> rrs@zan:~$ apt-cache show clementine
> Package: clementine
> Version: 1.1.1+dfsg-1
> Installed-Size: 15876
>
>
>
> It would be better if the Installed-Size field was displayed with a hint
> of what those numbers are. Maybe 15876 KiB.

apt-cache shows direct extracts from Packages file, changing this
behaviour to include e.g. unit information would break much of the
utility of this.  The format and units of the field itself are defined
in debian-policy, such that including the units on every line is
wasteful of space.  Further, the next request immediately after this
one will be for “locale formatted numbers”, which can not be done in
Packages.

Keep in mind that apt-cache is a low-level tool.  For neatly formatted
information, please consider using another frontend such as aptitude.

Regards