Bug#926476: apt search vs apt-cache search package list / output format
Package: apt
Version: 1.4.9
Severity: normal
Dear Maintainer,
Please look at the following output:
% apt search x-window-manager
Sorting... Done
Full Text Search... Done
matchbox-themes-extra/stable,stable 0.3-4 all
extra themes for matchbox-window-manager
matchbox-window-manager/stable 1.2-osso21-2+b1 amd64
window manager for resource-limited systems
xorg/stable,now 1:7.7+19 amd64 [installed,automatic]
X.Org X Window System
% apt-cache search x-window-manager
9wm - X11 window manager inspired by Plan 9's rio
aewm - minimalist window manager for X11
aewm++ - minimal window manager written in C++
afterstep - window manager with the NEXTSTEP look and feel
awesome - highly configurable X window manager
blackbox - Window manager for X
bspwm - Binary space partitioning window manager
[...]
wm2 - small, unconfigurable window manager
wmaker - NeXTSTEP-like window manager for X
wmii - lightweight tabbed and tiled X11 window manager, version 3
xfwm4 - window manager of the Xfce project
xmonad - Lightweight X11 window manager written in Haskell
xorg - X.Org X Window System
amiwm - The Amiga look alike window manager
notion - tiling tabbed window manager designed for keyboard users
% apt-cache search x-window-manager | wc -l
59
There are two issues here:
* [1] The list of packages differ (3 vs 59 packages)
* [2] The output format is not the same (2 lines + empty line vs 1 line per package)
Given that the man page of apt(8) states the following
,----
| The apt(8) commandline is designed as an end-user tool and it may change behavior between
| versions. While it tries not to break backward compatibility this is not guaranteed either if a
| change seems beneficial for interactive use.
|
| All features of apt(8) are available in dedicated APT tools like apt-get(8) and apt-cache(8) as
| well. apt(8) just changes the default value of some options (see apt.conf(5) and specifically
| the Binary scope). So you should prefer using these commands (potentially with some additional
| options enabled) in your scripts as they keep backward compatibility as much as possible.
`----
we should be ok with [2] but we should document why the output looks different
and - if possible - how to change the output format.
But shouldn't the package list be the same? Or shouldn't there be a setting to
archive that and shouldn't that be documented?
After browsing the source (together with zeha, thx!), we found how to force apt
search to output in the "traditional" way:
apt -oAPT::Cache::Search::Version=1 search x-window-manager
Thank you for looking into this and please tell us what we can do to help.
Regards from the Debian-BSP, Salzburg :),
- Darsha
-- Package-specific info:
-- apt-config dump --
APT "";
APT::Architecture "amd64";
APT::Build-Essential "";
APT::Build-Essential:: "build-essential";
APT::Install-Recommends "false";
APT::Install-Suggests "0";
APT::Sandbox "";
APT::Sandbox::User "_apt";
APT::Authentication "";
APT::Authentication::TrustCDROM "true";
APT::NeverAutoRemove "";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^firmware-linux.*";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-firmware$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-image-4\.18\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-image-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64-unsigned$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-image-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.2-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-headers-4\.18\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-headers-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64-unsigned$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-headers-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.2-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-image-extra-4\.18\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-image-extra-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64-unsigned$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-image-extra-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.2-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-signed-image-4\.18\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-signed-image-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64-unsigned$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-signed-image-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.2-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^kfreebsd-image-4\.18\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^kfreebsd-image-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64-unsigned$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^kfreebsd-image-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.2-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^kfreebsd-headers-4\.18\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^kfreebsd-headers-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64-unsigned$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^kfreebsd-headers-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.2-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^gnumach-image-4\.18\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^gnumach-image-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64-unsigned$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^gnumach-image-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.2-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^.*-modules-4\.18\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^.*-modules-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64-unsigned$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^.*-modules-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.2-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^.*-kernel-4\.18\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^.*-kernel-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64-unsigned$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^.*-kernel-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.2-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-backports-modules-.*-4\.18\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-backports-modules-.*-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64-unsigned$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-backports-modules-.*-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.2-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-tools-4\.18\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-tools-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.1-amd64-unsigned$";
APT::NeverAutoRemove:: "^linux-tools-4\.19\.0-0\.bpo\.2-amd64$";
APT::VersionedKernelPackages "";
APT::VersionedKernelPackages:: "linux-image";
APT::VersionedKernelPackages:: "linux-headers";
APT::VersionedKernelPackages:: "linux-image-extra";
APT::VersionedKernelPackages:: "linux-signed-image";
APT::VersionedKernelPackages:: "kfreebsd-image";
APT::VersionedKernelPackages:: "kfreebsd-headers";
APT::VersionedKernelPackages:: "gnumach-image";
APT::VersionedKernelPackages:: ".*-modules";
APT::VersionedKernelPackages:: ".*-kernel";
APT::VersionedKernelPackages:: "linux-backports-modules-.*";
APT::VersionedKernelPackages:: "linux-tools";
APT::Never-MarkAuto-Sections "";
APT::Never-MarkAuto-Sections:: "metapackages";
APT::Never-MarkAuto-Sections:: "contrib/metapackages";
APT::Never-MarkAuto-Sections:: "non-free/metapackages";
APT::Never-MarkAuto-Sections:: "restricted/metapackages";
APT::Never-MarkAuto-Sections:: "universe/metapackages";
APT::Never-MarkAuto-Sections:: "multiverse/metapackages";
APT::Move-Autobit-Sections "";
APT::Move-Autobit-Sections:: "oldlibs";
APT::Move-Autobit-Sections:: "contrib/oldlibs";
APT::Move-Autobit-Sections:: "non-free/oldlibs";
APT::Move-Autobit-Sections:: "restricted/oldlibs";
APT::Move-Autobit-Sections:: "universe/oldlibs";
APT::Move-Autobit-Sections:: "multiverse/oldlibs";
APT::Periodic "";
APT::Periodic::Update-Package-Lists "1";
APT::Periodic::Unattended-Upgrade "1";
APT::Update "";
APT::Update::Post-Invoke-Success "";
APT::Update::Post-Invoke-Success:: "/usr/bin/test -e /usr/share/dbus-1/system-services/org.freedesktop.PackageKit.service && /usr/bin/test -S /var/run/dbus/system_bus_socket && /usr/bin/gdbus call --system --dest org.freedesktop.PackageKit --object-path /org/freedesktop/PackageKit --timeout 4 --method org.freedesktop.PackageKit.StateHasChanged cache-update > /dev/null; /bin/echo > /dev/null";
APT::Architectures "";
APT::Architectures:: "amd64";
APT::Architectures:: "i386";
APT::Compressor "";
APT::Compressor::. "";
APT::Compressor::.::Name ".";
APT::Compressor::.::Extension "";
APT::Compressor::.::Binary "";
APT::Compressor::.::Cost "0";
APT::Compressor::lz4 "";
APT::Compressor::lz4::Name "lz4";
APT::Compressor::lz4::Extension ".lz4";
APT::Compressor::lz4::Binary "false";
APT::Compressor::lz4::Cost "50";
APT::Compressor::gzip "";
APT::Compressor::gzip::Name "gzip";
APT::Compressor::gzip::Extension ".gz";
APT::Compressor::gzip::Binary "gzip";
APT::Compressor::gzip::Cost "100";
APT::Compressor::gzip::CompressArg "";
APT::Compressor::gzip::CompressArg:: "-6n";
APT::Compressor::gzip::UncompressArg "";
APT::Compressor::gzip::UncompressArg:: "-d";
APT::Compressor::xz "";
APT::Compressor::xz::Name "xz";
APT::Compressor::xz::Extension ".xz";
APT::Compressor::xz::Binary "xz";
APT::Compressor::xz::Cost "200";
APT::Compressor::xz::CompressArg "";
APT::Compressor::xz::CompressArg:: "-6";
APT::Compressor::xz::UncompressArg "";
APT::Compressor::xz::UncompressArg:: "-d";
APT::Compressor::bzip2 "";
APT::Compressor::bzip2::Name "bzip2";
APT::Compressor::bzip2::Extension ".bz2";
APT::Compressor::bzip2::Binary "bzip2";
APT::Compressor::bzip2::Cost "300";
APT::Compressor::bzip2::CompressArg "";
APT::Compressor::bzip2::CompressArg:: "-6";
APT::Compressor::bzip2::UncompressArg "";
APT::Compressor::bzip2::UncompressArg:: "-d";
APT::Compressor::lzma "";
APT::Compressor::lzma::Name "lzma";
APT::Compressor::lzma::Extension ".lzma";
APT::Compressor::lzma::Binary "xz";
APT::Compressor::lzma::Cost "400";
APT::Compressor::lzma::CompressArg "";
APT::Compressor::lzma::CompressArg:: "--format=lzma";
APT::Compressor::lzma::CompressArg:: "-6";
APT::Compressor::lzma::UncompressArg "";
APT::Compressor::lzma::UncompressArg:: "--format=lzma";
APT::Compressor::lzma::UncompressArg:: "-d";
Dir "/";
Dir::State "var/lib/apt";
Dir::State::lists "lists/";
Dir::State::cdroms "cdroms.list";
Dir::State::mirrors "mirrors/";
Dir::State::extended_states "extended_states";
Dir::State::status "/var/lib/dpkg/status";
Dir::Cache "var/cache/apt";
Dir::Cache::archives "archives/";
Dir::Cache::srcpkgcache "srcpkgcache.bin";
Dir::Cache::pkgcache "pkgcache.bin";
Dir::Etc "etc/apt";
Dir::Etc::sourcelist "sources.list";
Dir::Etc::sourceparts "sources.list.d";
Dir::Etc::main "apt.conf";
Dir::Etc::netrc "auth.conf";
Dir::Etc::parts "apt.conf.d";
Dir::Etc::preferences "preferences";
Dir::Etc::preferencesparts "preferences.d";
Dir::Etc::trusted "trusted.gpg";
Dir::Etc::trustedparts "trusted.gpg.d";
Dir::Bin "";
Dir::Bin::methods "/usr/lib/apt/methods";
Dir::Bin::solvers "";
Dir::Bin::solvers:: "/usr/lib/apt/solvers";
Dir::Bin::planners "";
Dir::Bin::planners:: "/usr/lib/apt/planners";
Dir::Bin::dpkg "/usr/bin/dpkg";
Dir::Bin::gzip "/bin/gzip";
Dir::Bin::bzip2 "/bin/bzip2";
Dir::Bin::xz "/usr/bin/xz";
Dir::Bin::lz4 "/usr/bin/lz4";
Dir::Bin::lzma "/usr/bin/xz";
Dir::Media "";
Dir::Media::MountPath "/media/cdrom";
Dir::Log "var/log/apt";
Dir::Log::Terminal "term.log";
Dir::Log::History "history.log";
Dir::Log::Planner "eipp.log.xz";
Dir::Ignore-Files-Silently "";
Dir::Ignore-Files-Silently:: "~$";
Dir::Ignore-Files-Silently:: "\.disabled$";
Dir::Ignore-Files-Silently:: "\.bak$";
Dir::Ignore-Files-Silently:: "\.dpkg-[a-z]+$";
Dir::Ignore-Files-Silently:: "\.ucf-[a-z]+$";
Dir::Ignore-Files-Silently:: "\.save$";
Dir::Ignore-Files-Silently:: "\.orig$";
Dir::Ignore-Files-Silently:: "\.distUpgrade$";
Acquire "";
Acquire::AllowInsecureRepositories "0";
Acquire::AllowWeakRepositories "0";
Acquire::AllowDowngradeToInsecureRepositories "0";
Acquire::cdrom "";
Acquire::cdrom::mount "/media/cdrom";
Acquire::IndexTargets "";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb "";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb::Packages "";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb::Packages::MetaKey "$(COMPONENT)/binary-$(ARCHITECTURE)/Packages";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb::Packages::flatMetaKey "Packages";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb::Packages::ShortDescription "Packages";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb::Packages::Description "$(RELEASE)/$(COMPONENT) $(ARCHITECTURE) Packages";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb::Packages::flatDescription "$(RELEASE) Packages";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb::Packages::Optional "0";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb::Translations "";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb::Translations::MetaKey "$(COMPONENT)/i18n/Translation-$(LANGUAGE)";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb::Translations::flatMetaKey "$(LANGUAGE)";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb::Translations::ShortDescription "Translation-$(LANGUAGE)";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb::Translations::Description "$(RELEASE)/$(COMPONENT) Translation-$(LANGUAGE)";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb::Translations::flatDescription "$(RELEASE) Translation-$(LANGUAGE)";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb-src "";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb-src::Sources "";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb-src::Sources::MetaKey "$(COMPONENT)/source/Sources";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb-src::Sources::flatMetaKey "Sources";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb-src::Sources::ShortDescription "Sources";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb-src::Sources::Description "$(RELEASE)/$(COMPONENT) Sources";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb-src::Sources::flatDescription "$(RELEASE) Sources";
Acquire::IndexTargets::deb-src::Sources::Optional "0";
Acquire::Changelogs "";
Acquire::Changelogs::URI "";
Acquire::Changelogs::URI::Origin "";
Acquire::Changelogs::URI::Origin::Debian "http://metadata.ftp-master.debian.org/changelogs/@CHANGEPATH@_changelog";;
Acquire::Changelogs::URI::Origin::Tanglu "http://metadata.tanglu.org/changelogs/@CHANGEPATH@_changelog";;
Acquire::Changelogs::URI::Origin::Ubuntu "http://changelogs.ubuntu.com/changelogs/pool/@CHANGEPATH@/changelog";;
Acquire::Changelogs::URI::Origin::Ultimedia "http://packages.ultimediaos.com/changelogs/pool/@CHANGEPATH@/changelog.txt";;
Acquire::Changelogs::AlwaysOnline "";
Acquire::Changelogs::AlwaysOnline::Origin "";
Acquire::Changelogs::AlwaysOnline::Origin::Ubuntu "1";
Acquire::Languages "";
Acquire::Languages:: "en";
Acquire::Languages:: "none";
Acquire::CompressionTypes "";
Acquire::CompressionTypes::xz "xz";
Acquire::CompressionTypes::bz2 "bzip2";
Acquire::CompressionTypes::lzma "lzma";
Acquire::CompressionTypes::gz "gzip";
Acquire::CompressionTypes::lz4 "lz4";
DPkg "";
DPkg::Pre-Invoke "";
DPkg::Pre-Invoke:: "if [ -x /usr/bin/etckeeper ]; then etckeeper pre-install; fi";
DPkg::Post-Invoke "";
DPkg::Post-Invoke:: "if [ -x /usr/bin/etckeeper ]; then etckeeper post-install; fi";
DPkg::Post-Invoke:: "/usr/bin/test -e /usr/share/dbus-1/system-services/org.freedesktop.PackageKit.service && /usr/bin/test -S /var/run/dbus/system_bus_socket && /usr/bin/gdbus call --system --dest org.freedesktop.PackageKit --object-path /org/freedesktop/PackageKit --timeout 4 --method org.freedesktop.PackageKit.StateHasChanged cache-update > /dev/null; /bin/echo > /dev/null";
DPkg::Pre-Install-Pkgs "";
DPkg::Pre-Install-Pkgs:: "/usr/bin/apt-listchanges --apt || test $? -lt 10";
DPkg::Pre-Install-Pkgs:: "/usr/sbin/dpkg-preconfigure --apt || true";
DPkg::Tools "";
DPkg::Tools::Options "";
DPkg::Tools::Options::/usr/bin/apt-listchanges "";
DPkg::Tools::Options::/usr/bin/apt-listchanges::Version "2";
DPkg::Tools::Options::/usr/bin/apt-listchanges::InfoFD "20";
RPM "";
RPM::Pre-Invoke "";
RPM::Pre-Invoke:: "if [ -x /usr/bin/etckeeper ]; then etckeeper pre-install; fi";
RPM::Post-Invoke "";
RPM::Post-Invoke:: "if [ -x /usr/bin/etckeeper ]; then etckeeper post-install; fi";
Unattended-Upgrade "";
Unattended-Upgrade::Origins-Pattern "";
Unattended-Upgrade::Origins-Pattern:: "origin=Debian,codename=${distro_codename},label=Debian-Security";
Binary "apt-config";
Binary::apt "";
Binary::apt::APT "";
Binary::apt::APT::Color "1";
Binary::apt::APT::Cache "";
Binary::apt::APT::Cache::Show "";
Binary::apt::APT::Cache::Show::Version "2";
Binary::apt::APT::Cache::AllVersions "0";
Binary::apt::APT::Cache::ShowVirtuals "1";
Binary::apt::APT::Cache::Search "";
Binary::apt::APT::Cache::Search::Version "2";
Binary::apt::APT::Cache::ShowDependencyType "1";
Binary::apt::APT::Cache::ShowVersion "1";
Binary::apt::APT::Get "";
Binary::apt::APT::Get::Upgrade-Allow-New "1";
Binary::apt::APT::Cmd "";
Binary::apt::APT::Cmd::Show-Update-Stats "1";
Binary::apt::APT::Keep-Downloaded-Packages "0";
Binary::apt::DPkg "";
Binary::apt::DPkg::Progress-Fancy "1";
Binary::apt-get "";
Binary::apt-get::Acquire "";
Binary::apt-get::Acquire::AllowInsecureRepositories "1";
CommandLine "";
CommandLine::AsString "apt-config dump";
-- (no /etc/apt/preferences present) --
-- (/etc/apt/preferences.d/debian-multimedia.pref present, but not submitted) --
-- (/etc/apt/sources.list present, but not submitted) --
-- (/etc/apt/sources.list.d/atlassian-hipchat4.list present, but not submitted) --
-- (/etc/apt/sources.list.d/atlassian-hipchat4.list.save present, but not submitted) --
-- (/etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-multimedia.list present, but not submitted) --
-- (/etc/apt/sources.list.d/signal-xenial.list present, but not submitted) --
-- (/etc/apt/sources.list.d/signal-xenial.list.save present, but not submitted) --
-- (/etc/apt/sources.list.d/stretch-backports.list present, but not submitted) --
-- (/etc/apt/sources.list.d/stretch-backports.list.save present, but not submitted) --
-- (/etc/apt/sources.list.d/teamviewer.list present, but not submitted) --
-- (/etc/apt/sources.list.d/teamviewer.list.save present, but not submitted) --
-- (/etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list present, but not submitted) --
-- System Information:
Debian Release: 9.8
APT prefers stable-updates
APT policy: (500, 'stable-updates'), (500, 'stable')
Architecture: amd64 (x86_64)
Foreign Architectures: i386
Kernel: Linux 4.19.0-0.bpo.2-amd64 (SMP w/8 CPU cores)
Locale: LANG=en_US.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=en_US.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8), LANGUAGE=en_US.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/dash
Init: systemd (via /run/systemd/system)
Versions of packages apt depends on:
ii adduser 3.115
ii debian-archive-keyring 2017.5
ii gpgv 2.2.12-1~bpo9+1
ii gpgv1 1.4.21-4+deb9u1
ii init-system-helpers 1.48
ii libapt-pkg5.0 1.4.9
ii libc6 2.24-11+deb9u4
ii libgcc1 1:6.3.0-18+deb9u1
ii libstdc++6 6.3.0-18+deb9u1
Versions of packages apt recommends:
ii gnupg 2.2.12-1~bpo9+1
ii gnupg1 1.4.21-4+deb9u1
ii gnupg2 2.2.12-1~bpo9+1
Versions of packages apt suggests:
pn apt-doc <none>
ii dpkg-dev 1.18.25
ii powermgmt-base 1.31+nmu1
ii python-apt 1.4.0~beta3
ii synaptic 0.84.2
-- no debconf information
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