[Bug 1763186] [NEW] apt-get install --reinstall --install-recommends ... doesn't install Recommends

[TJ]

Public bug reported:

apt-cache policy apt
apt:
  Installed: 1.6~beta1
  Candidate: 1.6~beta1
  Version table:
 *** 1.6~beta1 500
        500 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status


Whilst trying to use virt-manager it reported requiring additional packages to run the SpiceClientGTK, which are Recommends of virt-manager.

System is configured with:

/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/05-no-install-recommends:APT::Install-Recommends
"false";

I did:

apt-get install --reinstall --install-recommends

but the Recommends are not installed. It seems that "--install-
recommends" is silently ignored.

apt-get remove virt-manager && apt-get install --install-recommends
virt-manager

works.

There's one of two bugs here, either:

1. should not ignore --install-recommends
2. should report it is ignoring --install-recommends

** Affects: apt (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1763186

Title:
  apt-get install --reinstall --install-recommends ... doesn't install
  Recommends

Status in apt package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  apt-cache policy apt
  apt:
    Installed: 1.6~beta1
    Candidate: 1.6~beta1
    Version table:
   *** 1.6~beta1 500
          500 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/main amd64 Packages
          100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

  
  Whilst trying to use virt-manager it reported requiring additional packages to run the SpiceClientGTK, which are Recommends of virt-manager.

  System is configured with:

  /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/05-no-install-recommends:APT::Install-Recommends
  "false";

  I did:

  apt-get install --reinstall --install-recommends

  but the Recommends are not installed. It seems that "--install-
  recommends" is silently ignored.

  apt-get remove virt-manager && apt-get install --install-recommends
  virt-manager

  works.

  There's one of two bugs here, either:

  1. should not ignore --install-recommends
  2. should report it is ignoring --install-recommends

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