On 2020-05-06 13:17:11 +0200, Julian Andres Klode wrote: > On Wed, May 06, 2020 at 12:43:54PM +0200, Vincent Lefevre wrote: > > zira% aptitude why x11proto-core-dev > > i tk8.5-dev Depends x11proto-core-dev > > > > but I can remove the package without breaking the dependency: > > > > zira% apt remove -s x11proto-core-dev > > NOTE: This is only a simulation! > > apt needs root privileges for real execution. > > Keep also in mind that locking is deactivated, > > so don't depend on the relevance to the real current situation! > > Reading package lists... Done > > Building dependency tree > > Reading state information... Done > > The following packages will be REMOVED: > > x11proto-core-dev > > 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 10 not upgraded. > > Remv x11proto-core-dev [2020.1-1] > > > > Here, x11proto-core-dev is a transitional dummy package to x11proto-dev, > > and x11proto-dev has: > > IMO: why does not answer the question if there are any blockers to removal, > it tells you why something was installed, and gives you the shortest path, > and hence the answer is correct.
But IMHO, not much useful. > It also follows Recommends or Suggests, and you can still remove > those packages. Yes, and this is a good thing. That's precisely the reason why I use "aptitude why ..." to know whether it would be safe to remove a package. BTW, at the same time, the spurious "tk8.5-dev Depends x11proto-core-dev" can hide real Recommends or Suggests. -- Vincent Lefèvre <vinc...@vinc17.net> - Web: <https://www.vinc17.net/> 100% accessible validated (X)HTML - Blog: <https://www.vinc17.net/blog/> Work: CR INRIA - computer arithmetic / AriC project (LIP, ENS-Lyon) _______________________________________________ Aptitude-devel mailing list Aptitude-devel@alioth-lists.debian.net https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aptitude-devel