It seems to, by testing with piuparts (my installation/removal tester), that xemacs21-bin still has problems dealing with alternatives correctly. Below is the relevant snippet of the log file. I've attached the entire log file, just in case it is useful.
0min36.0s ERROR: Package purging left files on system: /etc/alternatives/xemacs /tmp/.ICE-unix /tmp/.X11-unix /usr/bin/xemacs /usr/lib/xemacs-21.4.17 /var/lib/dpkg/alternatives/xemacs
0min0.0s --------------------------------------------------------------- 0min0.0s piuparts version 0.8 starting up. 0min0.0s Command line arguments: /home/liw/piuparts/piuparts.py -b etch.tar.gz -d etch -m http://liw.iki.fi/debian -avl foo.log xemacs21-bin 0min0.0s DEBUG: Created temporary directory ./tmpy6h0z0 0min0.0s DEBUG: Unpacking etch.tar.gz into ./tmpy6h0z0 0min0.0s DEBUG: Starting command: tar -C './tmpy6h0z0' -zxf 'etch.tar.gz' 0min2.7s DEBUG: Starting command: chroot ./tmpy6h0z0 apt-get update Get:1 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main Packages [3552kB] Get:2 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main Release [81B] Fetched 3552kB in 0s (3644kB/s) Reading Package Lists... 0min6.5s DEBUG: Starting command: chroot ./tmpy6h0z0 apt-get clean 0min6.7s DEBUG: Starting command: chroot ./tmpy6h0z0 dpkg --get-selections '*' adduser install apt install apt-utils install aptitude install base-config install base-files install base-passwd install bash install bsdmainutils install bsdutils install console-common install console-data install console-tools install coreutils install cpio install cron install debconf install debconf-i18n install debianutils install dhcp-client install diff install dpkg install dselect install e2fslibs install e2fsprogs install ed install fdutils install findutils install gcc-3.3-base install gettext-base install grep install groff-base install gzip install hostname install ifupdown install info install initscripts install iptables install iputils-ping install klogd install libacl1 install libattr1 install libblkid1 install libc6 install libcap1 install libcomerr2 install libconsole install libdb1-compat install libdb3 install libdb4.2 install libgcc1 install libgcrypt11 install libgdbm3 install libgnutls11 install libgpg-error0 install liblocale-gettext-perl install liblockfile1 install liblzo1 install libncurses5 install libncursesw5 install libnewt0.51 install libopencdk8 install libpam-modules install libpam-runtime install libpam0g install libpcap0.7 install libpcre3 install libpopt0 install libsigc++-1.2-5c102 install libss2 install libssl0.9.7 install libstdc++5 install libtasn1-2 install libtext-charwidth-perl install libtext-iconv-perl install libtext-wrapi18n-perl install libtextwrap1 install libuuid1 install libwrap0 install login install logrotate install makedev install man-db install manpages install mawk install modutils install mount install nano install ncurses-base install ncurses-bin install net-tools install netbase install netkit-inetd install nvi install passwd install pciutils install perl-base install ppp install pppconfig install pppoe install pppoeconf install procps install psmisc install sed install slang1a-utf8 install sysklogd install sysv-rc install sysvinit install tar install tasksel install tcpd install telnet install util-linux install wget install whiptail install zlib1g install 0min6.8s DEBUG: Starting command: chroot ./tmpy6h0z0 apt-get -y install 'xemacs21-bin' Reading Package Lists... Building Dependency Tree... The following extra packages will be installed: emacsen-common libcompfaceg1 libgpmg1 libice6 libjpeg62 libldap2 libpng12-0 libsasl2 libsm6 libtiff4 libx11-6 libxaw7 libxext6 libxmu6 libxpm4 libxt6 perl perl-modules xemacs21 xemacs21-basesupport xemacs21-mule xemacs21-mulesupport xemacs21-support xfree86-common xlibs-data Suggested packages: gpm libterm-readline-gnu-perl libterm-readline-perl-perl xemacs21-supportel x-window-system-core x-window-system Recommended packages: libsasl2-modules perl-doc The following NEW packages will be installed: emacsen-common libcompfaceg1 libgpmg1 libice6 libjpeg62 libldap2 libpng12-0 libsasl2 libsm6 libtiff4 libx11-6 libxaw7 libxext6 libxmu6 libxpm4 libxt6 perl perl-modules xemacs21 xemacs21-basesupport xemacs21-bin xemacs21-mule xemacs21-mulesupport xemacs21-support xfree86-common xlibs-data 0 upgraded, 26 newly installed, 0 to remove and 18 not upgraded. Need to get 43.0MB of archives. After unpacking 147MB of additional disk space will be used. Get:1 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libsasl2 2.1.19-1.5 [259kB] Get:2 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libldap2 2.1.30-11 [150kB] Get:3 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libgpmg1 1.19.6-20 [49.8kB] Get:4 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main perl-modules 5.8.7-3 [2326kB] Get:5 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main perl 5.8.7-3 [3371kB] Get:6 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main emacsen-common 1.4.16 [17.3kB] Get:7 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libcompfaceg1 1989.11.11-24 [13.0kB] Get:8 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main xfree86-common 4.3.0.dfsg.1-14 [815kB] Get:9 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libice6 4.3.0.dfsg.1-14 [203kB] Get:10 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libjpeg62 6b-10 [80.9kB] Get:11 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libpng12-0 1.2.8rel-1 [115kB] Get:12 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libsm6 4.3.0.dfsg.1-14 [181kB] Get:13 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libtiff4 3.7.2-3 [452kB] Get:14 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main xlibs-data 4.3.0.dfsg.1-14 [906kB] Get:15 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libx11-6 4.3.0.dfsg.1-14 [725kB] Get:16 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libxext6 4.3.0.dfsg.1-14 [188kB] Get:17 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libxt6 4.3.0.dfsg.1-14 [329kB] Get:18 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libxmu6 4.3.0.dfsg.1-14 [209kB] Get:19 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libxpm4 4.3.0.dfsg.1-14 [195kB] Get:20 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main libxaw7 4.3.0.dfsg.1-14 [338kB] Get:21 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main xemacs21-support 21.4.17-2 [4524kB] Get:22 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main xemacs21-bin 21.4.17-2 [488kB] Get:23 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main xemacs21-mulesupport 2005.05.05-1 [4352kB] Get:24 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main xemacs21-basesupport 2005.05.05-1 [20.6MB] Get:25 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main xemacs21-mule 21.4.17-2 [2138kB] Get:26 http://liw.iki.fi etch/main xemacs21 21.4.17-2 [13.9kB] Preconfiguring packages ... Fetched 43.0MB in 3s (10.9MB/s) Selecting previously deselected package libsasl2. (Reading database ... 7431 files and directories currently installed.) Unpacking libsasl2 (from .../libsasl2_2.1.19-1.5_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package libldap2. Unpacking libldap2 (from .../libldap2_2.1.30-11_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package libgpmg1. Unpacking libgpmg1 (from .../libgpmg1_1.19.6-20_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package perl-modules. Unpacking perl-modules (from .../perl-modules_5.8.7-3_all.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package perl. Unpacking perl (from .../archives/perl_5.8.7-3_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package emacsen-common. Unpacking emacsen-common (from .../emacsen-common_1.4.16_all.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package libcompfaceg1. Unpacking libcompfaceg1 (from .../libcompfaceg1_1989.11.11-24_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package xfree86-common. Unpacking xfree86-common (from .../xfree86-common_4.3.0.dfsg.1-14_all.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package libice6. Unpacking libice6 (from .../libice6_4.3.0.dfsg.1-14_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package libjpeg62. Unpacking libjpeg62 (from .../libjpeg62_6b-10_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package libpng12-0. Unpacking libpng12-0 (from .../libpng12-0_1.2.8rel-1_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package libsm6. Unpacking libsm6 (from .../libsm6_4.3.0.dfsg.1-14_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package libtiff4. Unpacking libtiff4 (from .../libtiff4_3.7.2-3_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package xlibs-data. Unpacking xlibs-data (from .../xlibs-data_4.3.0.dfsg.1-14_all.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package libx11-6. Unpacking libx11-6 (from .../libx11-6_4.3.0.dfsg.1-14_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package libxext6. Unpacking libxext6 (from .../libxext6_4.3.0.dfsg.1-14_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package libxt6. Unpacking libxt6 (from .../libxt6_4.3.0.dfsg.1-14_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package libxmu6. Unpacking libxmu6 (from .../libxmu6_4.3.0.dfsg.1-14_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package libxpm4. Unpacking libxpm4 (from .../libxpm4_4.3.0.dfsg.1-14_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package libxaw7. Unpacking libxaw7 (from .../libxaw7_4.3.0.dfsg.1-14_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package xemacs21-support. Unpacking xemacs21-support (from .../xemacs21-support_21.4.17-2_all.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package xemacs21-bin. Unpacking xemacs21-bin (from .../xemacs21-bin_21.4.17-2_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package xemacs21-mulesupport. Unpacking xemacs21-mulesupport (from .../xemacs21-mulesupport_2005.05.05-1_all.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package xemacs21-basesupport. Unpacking xemacs21-basesupport (from .../xemacs21-basesupport_2005.05.05-1_all.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package xemacs21-mule. Unpacking xemacs21-mule (from .../xemacs21-mule_21.4.17-2_i386.deb) ... Selecting previously deselected package xemacs21. Unpacking xemacs21 (from .../xemacs21_21.4.17-2_all.deb) ... Setting up libsasl2 (2.1.19-1.5) ... Setting up libldap2 (2.1.30-11) ... Setting up libgpmg1 (1.19.6-20) ... Setting up emacsen-common (1.4.16) ... emacsen-common: Handling install of emacsen flavor emacs Setting up libcompfaceg1 (1989.11.11-24) ... Setting up xfree86-common (4.3.0.dfsg.1-14) ... Adding system startup for /etc/init.d/xfree86-common ... /etc/rcS.d/S70xfree86-common -> ../init.d/xfree86-common Setting up X server socket directory /tmp/.X11-unix...done. Setting up ICE socket directory /tmp/.ICE-unix...done. Setting up libice6 (4.3.0.dfsg.1-14) ... Setting up libjpeg62 (6b-10) ... Setting up libpng12-0 (1.2.8rel-1) ... Setting up libsm6 (4.3.0.dfsg.1-14) ... Setting up libtiff4 (3.7.2-3) ... Setting up xlibs-data (4.3.0.dfsg.1-14) ... Setting up libx11-6 (4.3.0.dfsg.1-14) ... Setting up libxext6 (4.3.0.dfsg.1-14) ... Setting up libxt6 (4.3.0.dfsg.1-14) ... Setting up libxmu6 (4.3.0.dfsg.1-14) ... Setting up libxpm4 (4.3.0.dfsg.1-14) ... Setting up libxaw7 (4.3.0.dfsg.1-14) ... Setting up xemacs21-mulesupport (2005.05.05-1) ... Setting up perl-modules (5.8.7-3) ... Setting up xemacs21-support (21.4.17-2) ... Setting up perl (5.8.7-3) ... Setting up xemacs21-basesupport (2005.05.05-1) ... Setting up xemacs21-mule (21.4.17-2) ... emacs-install xemacs21 emacsen-common: Handling install of emacsen flavor xemacs21 emacsen-common: byte-compiling for xemacs21 Loading /usr/share/emacs/site-lisp/debian-startup... Loading 00debian... Loading site-start... Loading 00debian-vars... No /etc/mailname. Reverting to default... Compiling /etc/xemacs21/site-start.d/00debian-vars.el... Wrote /etc/xemacs21/site-start.d/00debian-vars.elc Compiling /usr/share/xemacs21/site-lisp/debian-startup.el... Wrote /usr/share/xemacs21/site-lisp/debian-startup.elc Done Setting up xemacs21 (21.4.17-2) ... Setting up xemacs21-bin (21.4.17-2) ... 0min26.6s DEBUG: Starting command: chroot ./tmpy6h0z0 apt-get clean 0min26.7s DEBUG: Starting command: chroot ./tmpy6h0z0 dpkg --get-selections '*' adduser install apt install apt-utils install aptitude install base-config install base-files install base-passwd install bash install bsdmainutils install bsdutils install console-common install console-data install console-tools install coreutils install cpio install cron install debconf install debconf-i18n install debianutils install dhcp-client install diff install dpkg install dselect install e2fslibs install e2fsprogs install ed install emacsen-common install fdutils install findutils install gcc-3.3-base install gettext-base install grep install groff-base install gzip install hostname install ifupdown install info install initscripts install iptables install iputils-ping install klogd install libacl1 install libattr1 install libblkid1 install libc6 install libcap1 install libcomerr2 install libcompfaceg1 install libconsole install libdb1-compat install libdb3 install libdb4.2 install libgcc1 install libgcrypt11 install libgdbm3 install libgnutls11 install libgpg-error0 install libgpmg1 install libice6 install libjpeg62 install libldap2 install liblocale-gettext-perl install liblockfile1 install liblzo1 install libncurses5 install libncursesw5 install libnewt0.51 install libopencdk8 install libpam-modules install libpam-runtime install libpam0g install libpcap0.7 install libpcre3 install libpng12-0 install libpopt0 install libsasl2 install libsigc++-1.2-5c102 install libsm6 install libss2 install libssl0.9.7 install libstdc++5 install libtasn1-2 install libtext-charwidth-perl install libtext-iconv-perl install libtext-wrapi18n-perl install libtextwrap1 install libtiff4 install libuuid1 install libwrap0 install libx11-6 install libxaw7 install libxext6 install libxmu6 install libxpm4 install libxt6 install login install logrotate install makedev install man-db install manpages install mawk install modutils install mount install nano install ncurses-base install ncurses-bin install net-tools install netbase install netkit-inetd install nvi install passwd install pciutils install perl install perl-base install perl-modules install ppp install pppconfig install pppoe install pppoeconf install procps install psmisc install sed install slang1a-utf8 install sysklogd install sysv-rc install sysvinit install tar install tasksel install tcpd install telnet install util-linux install wget install whiptail install xemacs21 install xemacs21-basesupport install xemacs21-bin install xemacs21-mule install xemacs21-mulesupport install xemacs21-support install xfree86-common install xlibs-data install zlib1g install 0min26.7s DEBUG: Starting command: chroot ./tmpy6h0z0 apt-get -y --purge remove emacsen-common libcompfaceg1 xemacs21-support libpng12-0 libxext6 xemacs21-mule libice6 libtiff4 libsm6 libxaw7 xemacs21 perl-modules libxpm4 perl xemacs21-mulesupport libx11-6 libsasl2 libjpeg62 libxt6 libxmu6 xfree86-common xlibs-data xemacs21-basesupport libgpmg1 libldap2 xemacs21-bin Reading Package Lists... Building Dependency Tree... The following packages will be REMOVED: emacsen-common* libcompfaceg1* libgpmg1* libice6* libjpeg62* libldap2* libpng12-0* libsasl2* libsm6* libtiff4* libx11-6* libxaw7* libxext6* libxmu6* libxpm4* libxt6* perl* perl-modules* xemacs21* xemacs21-basesupport* xemacs21-bin* xemacs21-mule* xemacs21-mulesupport* xemacs21-support* xfree86-common* xlibs-data* 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 26 to remove and 18 not upgraded. Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 147MB disk space will be freed. (Reading database ... 15996 files and directories currently installed.) Removing xemacs21-mule ... emacs-remove xemacs21 emacsen-common: Handling removal of emacsen flavor xemacs21 emacsen-common: purging byte-compiled files for xemacs21 Purging configuration files for xemacs21-mule ... Removing xemacs21-bin ... dpkg - warning: while removing xemacs21-bin, directory `/usr/lib/xemacs-21.4.17' not empty so not removed. Removing libcompfaceg1 ... Removing libgpmg1 ... Purging configuration files for libgpmg1 ... Removing libxaw7 ... Purging configuration files for libxaw7 ... Removing libxmu6 ... Purging configuration files for libxmu6 ... Removing libxt6 ... Purging configuration files for libxt6 ... Removing libsm6 ... Purging configuration files for libsm6 ... Removing libice6 ... Purging configuration files for libice6 ... Removing libtiff4 ... Purging configuration files for libtiff4 ... Removing libjpeg62 ... Removing libldap2 ... Purging configuration files for libldap2 ... Removing libpng12-0 ... Purging configuration files for libpng12-0 ... Removing libsasl2 ... Purging configuration files for libsasl2 ... Removing libx11-6 ... Purging configuration files for libx11-6 ... Removing libxext6 ... Purging configuration files for libxext6 ... Removing libxpm4 ... Purging configuration files for libxpm4 ... Removing xemacs21-basesupport ... Removing perl ... Removing perl-modules ... Removing xemacs21-mulesupport ... Purging configuration files for xemacs21-mulesupport ... Removing xlibs-data ... Purging configuration files for xlibs-data ... Removing xfree86-common ... Purging configuration files for xfree86-common ... Removing xemacs21-support ... Purging configuration files for xemacs21-support ... Removing xemacs21 ... Removing emacsen-common ... emacsen-common: Handling removal of emacsen flavor emacs Purging configuration files for emacsen-common ... 0min35.5s DEBUG: Starting command: chroot ./tmpy6h0z0 dpkg --remove --pending 0min35.6s DEBUG: Starting command: chroot ./tmpy6h0z0 dpkg --purge --pending 0min36.0s ERROR: Package purging left files on system: /etc/alternatives/xemacs /tmp/.ICE-unix /tmp/.X11-unix /usr/bin/xemacs /usr/lib/xemacs-21.4.17 /var/lib/dpkg/alternatives/xemacs 0min36.3s DEBUG: Removed directory tree at ./tmpy6h0z0 0min36.3s ERROR: FAIL: Installation and purging test.
