[Bug 1904195] Re: apt cancels holds on uninstalled packages

[Julian Andres Klode]

Yes, but that's really something for dpkg upstream to look at, and not
something we should patch out downstream.

** No longer affects: apt (Ubuntu)

** Changed in: dpkg (Ubuntu)
   Importance: Undecided => Low

** Changed in: dpkg (Ubuntu)
       Status: New => Triaged

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1904195

Title:
  apt cancels holds on uninstalled packages

Status in dpkg package in Ubuntu:
  Triaged

Bug description:
  When a package is not installed and apt dist-upgrade offers to install
  it, if this is not desired, it is possible to hold the package using
  multiple tools, which puts it in a state documented in dpkg.1 as:

         hold
             A package marked to be on hold is kept on the same version, that
             is, no automatic new installs, upgrades or removals will be
             performed on them, unless these actions are requested explicitly,
             or are permitted to be done automatically with the --force-hold
             option.

  Note the "no automatic new installs", suggesting that this is a
  correct and valid use for packages that are not installed. I use "apt-
  mark hold" to put packages in this state.

  This is respected by apt when choosing what to install, but any
  installation causes this state to be lost for uninstalled packages,
  even installations of completely unrelated packages.

  Steps to reproduce:

  - Add a repository to sources.list that adds new essential packages, and run `apt update`.
  - Observe that `apt dist-upgrade` will want to install new packages.
  - Put the packages on hold, using `apt-mark hold <package>`.
  - Observe that `apt dist-upgrade` will no longer want to install new packages.
  - Install an unrelated package.
  - Observe that `apt dist-upgrade` will again want to install new packages.

  Seen on Ubuntu 20.10, apt 2.1.10.

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