[Bug 844196] Re: --ignore-missing doesn't work on apt-get download

[Daniel Hartwig]

On 1 June 2013 16:21, Sworddragon <844196 at bugs.launchpad.net> wrote:
> The command itself is not invalid because the package names are just
> arguments.

The arguments of ‘apt-get install’ are defined to be packages,
‘ia33-libs’ does not name any package, hence the command line /as a
whole/ is invalid.

> In my opinion --ignore-missing should continue if a package
> isn't available. The reason for this is simple: "ignore-missing" implies
> that it will ignore any missing package - otherwise the option should
> get a more descriptive name.

Semantics.  ‘Missing’ can just as easily be interpretted as the
package exists (is known to apt) but not available in local storage.

In any case, the meaning and behaviour of options is defined in the
manual and not by what any particular user may choose to infer from
the name.  Nowhere does the manual indicate that unknown packages will
be tolerated by this option, in fact it takes extra time to clarify
that the ‘missing’ packages it refers to are those which failed to
download.

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to apt in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/844196

Title:
  --ignore-missing doesn't work on apt-get download

Status in “apt” package in Ubuntu:
  Opinion
Status in “apt” package in Debian:
  Opinion

Bug description:
  I'm using Ubuntu 11.10 dev with apt 0.8.16~exp5ubuntu6. If a package
  can't be found on apt-get download the other packages aren't
  downloaded too. --ignore-missing doesn't force to continue the
  download. For example "apt-get download --ignore-missing htop
  ia33-libs" will stop on ia33-libs because the package doesn't exist
  but htop will not be downloaded then too.

  TEST CASE:
  apt-get download --ignore-missing htop ia33-libs

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt/+bug/844196/+subscriptions