Bug#1135079: apt: with APT::Get::Remove, no way to distinguish a real package that becomes virtual

Package: apt
Version: 3.2.0
Severity: wishlist

The --no-remove apt-get option (configuration item APT::Get::Remove)
is useful to prevent packages from being removed, e.g. due to
temporary unsatisfied dependencies.

However, it is sometimes safe to remove a package, e.g. because a
package becomes virtual, with the dependency still statisfies by
the upgrade.

For instance, when the dvidvi package is installed,

  apt-get install --no-remove texlive-binaries

to upgrade texlive-binaries from 2025.20250727.75242+ds-5+b2 to
2026.20260303.78225+ds-3 fails because the dvidvi real package
will be removed, while dvidvi will be provided by texlive-binaries
in its new version:

Package: texlive-binaries
Version: 2026.20260303.78225+ds-3
Replaces: dvidvi, [...]
Provides: dvidvi, [...]
Conflicts: dvidvi, [...]

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Vincent Lefèvre <[email protected]> - Web: <https://www.vinc17.net/>
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