I think I've found a bug in apt-get : Just now I tried the following :
# apt-get -t unstable install python2.1-numeric -s Reading Package Lists... Done Building Dependency Tree... Done The following extra packages will be installed: python-gnuplot python-numeric The following packages will be REMOVED: gramps python-gdk-imlib python-gnome python-opengl The following NEW packages will be installed: python2.1-numeric The following packages will be upgraded python-gnuplot python-numeric 2 packages upgraded, 1 newly installed, 4 to remove and 174 not upgraded. Remv gramps (0.7.0-1 Debian:unstable) Remv python-gnome (1.4.1-14 Debian:testing) Remv python-gdk-imlib (0.6.8-14 Debian:testing) Remv python-opengl (1.5.7-5.1 Debian:testing) Inst python-numeric (20.3-1 Debian:unstable) [] Inst python2.1-numeric (20.3-1 Debian:unstable) Inst python-gnuplot (1.5-1 Debian:unstable) Conf python2.1-numeric (20.3-1 Debian:unstable) Conf python-numeric (20.3-1 Debian:unstable) Conf python-gnuplot (1.5-1 Debian:unstable) # apt-get -t unstable install python-numeric -s Reading Package Lists... Done Building Dependency Tree... Done The following extra packages will be installed: python2.1-numeric The following NEW packages will be installed: python2.1-numeric The following packages will be upgraded python-numeric 1 packages upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 175 not upgraded. Inst python-numeric (20.3-1 Debian:unstable) [] Inst python2.1-numeric (20.3-1 Debian:unstable) Conf python2.1-numeric (20.3-1 Debian:unstable) Conf python-numeric (20.3-1 Debian:unstable) Note that the first invocation says it is going to upgrade (not remove!) python-numeric. However it is then going to remove several packages that depend on it. In the second invocation it correctly achieves the result the first one requests. Why should the first invocation remove stuff if the second one doesn't? (and why would it remove the stuff anyways?) -D -- The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3