Bug#1108601: debfoster: prune does not remove "all packages that are only installed because this package depends on them"
On 12/07/25 at 13:54 +0200, Marc Haber wrote: > Control: -1 severity wishlist > thanks > > On Sat, Jul 12, 2025 at 01:27:19PM +0200, Lucas Nussbaum wrote: > > Actually that issue triggered me to look at apt-mark/apt autoremove > > again, and I'm now using that instead. I wonder if Debian should keep > > debfoster or just direct users to apt autoremove. > > apt-mark/apt autoremove is the recommended way to do it, and it was the > reason why debfoster was put up for adoption (or for removal). Maybe you can > explain to me what it can do next week. Regarding replacing debfoster with apt-mark, I filed #1109196: apt: provide a way to automatically mark 'auto' all packages #that don't need to stay manual (with a POC) Lucas
Bug#1108601: debfoster: prune does not remove "all packages that are only installed because this package depends on them"
On Sat, Jul 12, 2025 at 01:53:21PM +0200, Chris Hofstaedtler wrote: On Sat, Jul 12, 2025 at 01:27:19PM +0200, Lucas Nussbaum wrote: Actually that issue triggered me to look at apt-mark/apt autoremove again, and I'm now using that instead. I wonder if Debian should keep debfoster or just direct users to apt autoremove. Part of my reason for removing deborphan was to get people to use apt autoremove more. As long as we're collectively stuck on the old tools, apt doesn't get better. And apparently apt mark/autoremove did improve in trixie! Want me to put that into debfoster's description? I am afraid that will be too late for trixie, but I can cooperate here, of course. Greetings Marc -- - Marc Haber | "I don't trust Computers. They | Mailadresse im Header Leimen, Germany| lose things."Winona Ryder | Fon: *49 6224 1600402 Nordisch by Nature | How to make an American Quilt | Fax: *49 6224 1600421
Bug#1108601: debfoster: prune does not remove "all packages that are only installed because this package depends on them"
Control: -1 severity wishlist thanks On Sat, Jul 12, 2025 at 01:27:19PM +0200, Lucas Nussbaum wrote: Actually that issue triggered me to look at apt-mark/apt autoremove again, and I'm now using that instead. I wonder if Debian should keep debfoster or just direct users to apt autoremove. apt-mark/apt autoremove is the recommended way to do it, and it was the reason why debfoster was put up for adoption (or for removal). Maybe you can explain to me what it can do next week. Greetings from the TGV to Brest :-) Looking forward to seeing you. Greetings Marc -- - Marc Haber | "I don't trust Computers. They | Mailadresse im Header Leimen, Germany| lose things."Winona Ryder | Fon: *49 6224 1600402 Nordisch by Nature | How to make an American Quilt | Fax: *49 6224 1600421
Bug#1108601: debfoster: prune does not remove "all packages that are only installed because this package depends on them"
On Sat, Jul 12, 2025 at 01:27:19PM +0200, Lucas Nussbaum wrote: > Actually that issue triggered me to look at apt-mark/apt autoremove > again, and I'm now using that instead. I wonder if Debian should keep > debfoster or just direct users to apt autoremove. Part of my reason for removing deborphan was to get people to use apt autoremove more. As long as we're collectively stuck on the old tools, apt doesn't get better. And apparently apt mark/autoremove did improve in trixie! I think there are still unsolved problems with it, but I hope this will improve in forky. Chris
Bug#1108601: debfoster: prune does not remove "all packages that are only installed because this package depends on them"
On 12/07/25 at 13:17 +0200, Marc Haber wrote: > On Sat, Jul 12, 2025 at 12:52:42PM +0200, Lucas Nussbaum wrote: > > What I was doing (using your example below) is: > > Answer Y to "Keep build-essential? [Ynpsiuqx?], [H]elp: " > > Answer P to "Keep mediainfo? [Ynpsiuqx?], [H]elp: " > > then press X to "Remove unwanted packages and exit." > > Your usecase might actually be valid. This is just one that I never used. I > took debfoster to keep it from being removed. I am not too familar with the > program itself. > > > I was under the impression that in that case, it would also remove > > dependencies of the pruned package. But I checked in Debian 11 and I am > > wrong (the behaviour is the same in 11, 12, 13). > > So I could theoretically close this issue? I'm probably going to keep it > open to review later whether your usecase could be supported better. Yes, feel free to close it, or to turn it into a wishlist bug. Actually that issue triggered me to look at apt-mark/apt autoremove again, and I'm now using that instead. I wonder if Debian should keep debfoster or just direct users to apt autoremove. > Greetings from Brest Greetings from the TGV to Brest :-) Lucas
Bug#1108601: debfoster: prune does not remove "all packages that are only installed because this package depends on them"
On Sat, Jul 12, 2025 at 12:52:42PM +0200, Lucas Nussbaum wrote: What I was doing (using your example below) is: Answer Y to "Keep build-essential? [Ynpsiuqx?], [H]elp: " Answer P to "Keep mediainfo? [Ynpsiuqx?], [H]elp: " then press X to "Remove unwanted packages and exit." Your usecase might actually be valid. This is just one that I never used. I took debfoster to keep it from being removed. I am not too familar with the program itself. I was under the impression that in that case, it would also remove dependencies of the pruned package. But I checked in Debian 11 and I am wrong (the behaviour is the same in 11, 12, 13). So I could theoretically close this issue? I'm probably going to keep it open to review later whether your usecase could be supported better. Greetings from Brest Marc -- - Marc Haber | "I don't trust Computers. They | Mailadresse im Header Leimen, Germany| lose things."Winona Ryder | Fon: *49 6224 1600402 Nordisch by Nature | How to make an American Quilt | Fax: *49 6224 1600421
Bug#1108601: debfoster: prune does not remove "all packages that are only installed because this package depends on them"
On 12/07/25 at 10:22 +0200, Marc Haber wrote: > Control: tags -1 unreproducible > Control: severity -1 normal > thanks > > On Tue, Jul 01, 2025 at 10:36:57AM +0200, Lucas Nussbaum wrote: > > 1. apt install mediainfo # this installs a dozen of dependencies, such as > > 'publicsuffix' > > 2. debfoster > > 3. answer "prune" for mediainfo > > > > I get the following result: > > > > > root@d12:~# debfoster > > > > > > mediainfo is keeping the following 21 packages installed: > > > libcurl3t64-gnutls libgnutls30t64 libldap-common libldap2 > > > libmediainfo0v5 libmms0 libnghttp2-14 libnghttp3-9 libngtcp2-16 > > > libngtcp2-crypto-gnutls8 libp11-kit0 libpsl5t64 > > > librtmp1 libsasl2-2 libsasl2-modules libsasl2-modules-db libssh2-1t64 > > > libtasn1-6 libtinyxml2-11 libzen0t64 publicsuffix > > > Keep mediainfo? [Ynpsiuqx?], [H]elp: P > > > > > > [...] > > > Reading package lists... Done > > > Building dependency tree... Done > > > Reading state information... Done > > > The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer > > > required: > > > libgnutls30t64 libldap-common libmms0 libnghttp2-14 libnghttp3-9 > > > libngtcp2-16 libpsl5t64 libsasl2-2 libsasl2-modules libsasl2-modules-db > > > libssh2-1t64 libtinyxml2-11 libzen0t64 > > > publicsuffix > > > Use 'apt autoremove' to remove them. > > > The following packages will be REMOVED: > > > libcurl3t64-gnutls* libldap2* libmediainfo0v5* > > > libngtcp2-crypto-gnutls8* librtmp1* mediainfo* > > > 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 6 to remove and 0 not upgraded. > > > After this operation, 12.3 MB disk space will be freed. > > > Do you want to continue? [Y/n] > > > > I would expect debfoster to request the removal of other mediainfo > > dependencies, like it did in bookworm. > > Works for me. Please help me reproduce this issue. Tagging and > downgrading. Ah, yes, sorry. What I was doing (using your example below) is: Answer Y to "Keep build-essential? [Ynpsiuqx?], [H]elp: " Answer P to "Keep mediainfo? [Ynpsiuqx?], [H]elp: " then press X to "Remove unwanted packages and exit." I was under the impression that in that case, it would also remove dependencies of the pruned package. But I checked in Debian 11 and I am wrong (the behaviour is the same in 11, 12, 13). Best, Lucas
Bug#1108601: debfoster: prune does not remove "all packages that are only installed because this package depends on them"
Control: tags -1 unreproducible Control: severity -1 normal thanks On Tue, Jul 01, 2025 at 10:36:57AM +0200, Lucas Nussbaum wrote: > 1. apt install mediainfo # this installs a dozen of dependencies, such as > 'publicsuffix' > 2. debfoster > 3. answer "prune" for mediainfo > > I get the following result: > > > root@d12:~# debfoster > > > > mediainfo is keeping the following 21 packages installed: > > libcurl3t64-gnutls libgnutls30t64 libldap-common libldap2 libmediainfo0v5 > > libmms0 libnghttp2-14 libnghttp3-9 libngtcp2-16 libngtcp2-crypto-gnutls8 > > libp11-kit0 libpsl5t64 > > librtmp1 libsasl2-2 libsasl2-modules libsasl2-modules-db libssh2-1t64 > > libtasn1-6 libtinyxml2-11 libzen0t64 publicsuffix > > Keep mediainfo? [Ynpsiuqx?], [H]elp: P > > > > [...] > > Reading package lists... Done > > Building dependency tree... Done > > Reading state information... Done > > The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer > > required: > > libgnutls30t64 libldap-common libmms0 libnghttp2-14 libnghttp3-9 > > libngtcp2-16 libpsl5t64 libsasl2-2 libsasl2-modules libsasl2-modules-db > > libssh2-1t64 libtinyxml2-11 libzen0t64 > > publicsuffix > > Use 'apt autoremove' to remove them. > > The following packages will be REMOVED: > > libcurl3t64-gnutls* libldap2* libmediainfo0v5* libngtcp2-crypto-gnutls8* > > librtmp1* mediainfo* > > 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 6 to remove and 0 not upgraded. > > After this operation, 12.3 MB disk space will be freed. > > Do you want to continue? [Y/n] > > I would expect debfoster to request the removal of other mediainfo > dependencies, like it did in bookworm. Works for me. Please help me reproduce this issue. Tagging and downgrading. Greetings Marc $ debspawn login trixie [sudo] password for mh on swivel: ╔═══╗ ║ Login for trixie-buildd-amd64║ ╚═══╝ ░ Spawning container swivel-trixie-buildd-amd64-z7oy on /var/tmp/debspawn/pu11knzp. ░ Press Ctrl-] three times within 1s to kill container. root@swivel-trixie-buildd-amd64-z7oy:/srv# apt install debfoster mediainfo Installing: debfoster mediainfo Installing dependencies: libbrotli1 libkrb5-3 libpsl5t64 libcom-err2 libkrb5support0 librtmp1 libcurl3t64-gnutls libldap2 libsasl2-2 libffi8 libmediainfo0v5 libsasl2-modules-db libgc1 libmms0 libssh2-1t64 libgnutls30t64 libnghttp2-14 libtasn1-6 libgssapi-krb5-2libnghttp3-9 libtinyxml2-11 libidn2-0 libngtcp2-16 libunistring5 libk5crypto3libngtcp2-crypto-gnutls8 libzen0t64 libkeyutils1libp11-kit0 Suggested packages: gnutls-bin krb5-doc krb5-user mediainfo-gui Recommended packages: ca-certificates libldap-common libsasl2-modules krb5-locales publicsuffix Summary: Upgrading: 0, Installing: 31, Removing: 0, Not Upgrading: 0 Download size: 8397 kB Space needed: 26.3 MB / 692 GB available Continue? [Y/n] Get:1 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libgc1 amd64 1:8.2.8-1 [247 kB] Get:2 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 debfoster amd64 2.8-1 [38.3 kB] Get:3 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libbrotli1 amd64 1.1.0-2+b7 [307 kB] Get:4 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libcom-err2 amd64 1.47.2-3+b1 [25.0 kB] Get:5 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libunistring5 amd64 1.3-2 [477 kB] Get:6 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libidn2-0 amd64 2.3.8-2 [109 kB] Get:7 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libffi8 amd64 3.4.8-2 [24.1 kB] Get:8 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libp11-kit0 amd64 0.25.5-3 [425 kB] Get:9 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libtasn1-6 amd64 4.20.0-2 [49.9 kB] Get:10 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libgnutls30t64 amd64 3.8.9-2 [1464 kB] Get:11 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libkrb5support0 amd64 1.21.3-5 [33.0 kB] Get:12 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libk5crypto3 amd64 1.21.3-5 [81.5 kB] Get:13 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libkeyutils1 amd64 1.6.3-6 [9456 B] Get:14 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libkrb5-3 amd64 1.21.3-5 [326 kB] Get:15 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libgssapi-krb5-2 amd64 1.21.3-5 [138 kB] Get:16 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libsasl2-modules-db amd64 2.1.28+dfsg1-9 [19.8 kB] Get:17 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libsasl2-2 amd64 2.1.28+dfsg1-9 [57.5 kB] Get:18 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libldap2 amd64 2.6.10+dfsg-1 [194 kB] Get:19 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libnghttp2-14 amd64 1.64.0-1.1 [76.0 kB] Get:20 http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 libnghttp3-9 amd64 1.8.0-1 [67.7 kB] Get:21 h
Bug#1108601: debfoster: prune does not remove "all packages that are only installed because this package depends on them"
Package: debfoster Version: 2.8-1 Severity: serious Justification: makes package useless Hi, In trixie, if I: 1. apt install mediainfo # this installs a dozen of dependencies, such as 'publicsuffix' 2. debfoster 3. answer "prune" for mediainfo I get the following result: > root@d12:~# debfoster > > mediainfo is keeping the following 21 packages installed: > libcurl3t64-gnutls libgnutls30t64 libldap-common libldap2 libmediainfo0v5 > libmms0 libnghttp2-14 libnghttp3-9 libngtcp2-16 libngtcp2-crypto-gnutls8 > libp11-kit0 libpsl5t64 > librtmp1 libsasl2-2 libsasl2-modules libsasl2-modules-db libssh2-1t64 > libtasn1-6 libtinyxml2-11 libzen0t64 publicsuffix > Keep mediainfo? [Ynpsiuqx?], [H]elp: P > > [...] > Reading package lists... Done > Building dependency tree... Done > Reading state information... Done > The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer > required: > libgnutls30t64 libldap-common libmms0 libnghttp2-14 libnghttp3-9 > libngtcp2-16 libpsl5t64 libsasl2-2 libsasl2-modules libsasl2-modules-db > libssh2-1t64 libtinyxml2-11 libzen0t64 > publicsuffix > Use 'apt autoremove' to remove them. > The following packages will be REMOVED: > libcurl3t64-gnutls* libldap2* libmediainfo0v5* libngtcp2-crypto-gnutls8* > librtmp1* mediainfo* > 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 6 to remove and 0 not upgraded. > After this operation, 12.3 MB disk space will be freed. > Do you want to continue? [Y/n] I would expect debfoster to request the removal of other mediainfo dependencies, like it did in bookworm. This does not match the behaviour described in the manpage for 'prune': it should remove "all packages that are only installed because this package depends on them". Lucas -- System Information: Debian Release: 13.0 APT prefers testing-security APT policy: (500, 'testing-security'), (500, 'stable-updates'), (500, 'stable-security'), (500, 'testing'), (500, 'stable'), (500, 'oldstable'), (100, 'bookworm-fasttrack') Architecture: amd64 (x86_64) Foreign Architectures: i386 Kernel: Linux 6.12.33+deb13-amd64 (SMP w/20 CPU threads; PREEMPT) Locale: LANG=en_US.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=en_US.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8), LANGUAGE=en_US:en Shell: /bin/sh linked to /usr/bin/dash Init: systemd (via /run/systemd/system) LSM: AppArmor: enabled Versions of packages debfoster depends on: ii libc6 2.41-9 ii libgc1 1:8.2.8-1 Versions of packages debfoster recommends: ii apt 3.0.3 debfoster suggests no packages. -- no debconf information
