Public bug reported:
Title: python3-fonttools pulls in unnecessary development dependencies
Source Package: fonttools
Release: Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish)
Package Version: python3-fonttools 4.29.1-2build1
What I expected to happen:
When installing python3-matplotlib via apt-get, only runtime dependencies
should be installed. The package should not pull in development tools like
python3-dev, gcc, g++, or build tools that are not needed for runtime operation.
What happened instead:
Installing python3-matplotlib pulled in 134 additional packages including
development dependencies:
- python3-dev (Python development headers)
- gcc, g++ (C/C++ compilers)
- binutils (binary utilities)
- libboost-dev (Boost development libraries)
- libopenblas-dev (OpenBLAS development libraries)
- And many other development/build tools
Dependency chain causing the issue:
python3-matplotlib → python3-fonttools → python3-scipy → python3-pythran →
python3-dev
Evidence that this is unnecessary:
1. Runtime testing shows matplotlib works perfectly without development
dependencies
2. This dependency chain does not exist on Ubuntu 20.04 (same packages work
without dev dependencies)
3. The dependency on python3-scipy by python3-fonttools may be overly broad for
font processing
Impact:
- Larger container image sizes (134 additional packages)
- Security concerns with development tools in production environments
- Unnecessary resource usage and longer installation times
- Breaks the principle of minimal runtime dependencies
Steps to reproduce:
1. Start with a clean Ubuntu 22.04 system
2. Run: apt-get install python3-matplotlib
3. Observe that python3-dev, gcc, g++, and other development tools are installed
4. Verify matplotlib works without these dev dependencies by testing basic
functionality
Additional context:
This appears to be a packaging issue where the dependency chain is overly
strict. The development dependencies are not needed for runtime operation of
matplotlib, making this a legitimate bug that affects container deployments and
production environments.
ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 22.04
Package: python3-fonttools 4.29.1-2build1
Uname: Linux 6.10.14-linuxkit x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu82.9
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
Date: Fri Aug 1 15:53:51 2025
ProcEnviron:
TERM=xterm
PATH=(custom, no user)
SourcePackage: fonttools
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
** Affects: fonttools (Ubuntu)
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
** Tags: amd64 apport-bug fonttools jammy matplotlib third-party-packages
** Tags added: fonttools matplotlib
--
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2119324
Title:
python3-fonttools pulls in unnecessary development dependencies
To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/fonttools/+bug/2119324/+subscriptions
--
ubuntu-bugs mailing list
[email protected]
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
