[Bug 1153703] [NEW] apt should ignore commas to facilitate copy and paste of package lists from apt-cache

[Daniel Hartwig]

On 12 March 2013 02:14, Matt Fischer <1153703 at bugs.launchpad.net> wrote:
> Public bug reported:
>
> Apt doesn't understand commas, for example:
>
> mfisch at caprica:~$ sudo apt-get install gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad, gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly
> ...
> E: Unable to locate package gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad,
> E: Couldn't find any package by regex 'gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad,'
>
> This is annoying when a user is trying to copy and paste package lists
> from the output of something like apt-cache show, which uses commas in
> all the depends, recommends, and suggests lists. This is a minor
> annoyance for sure, but I think the idea that the output of apt-cache
> show is compatible with the input of apt-get install makes sense.

The output of apt-cache show is Debian control file format, and this
is incompatible with apt-get in various ways, including the use of
commas and the version specifications (“(<< 1.0)”).

Command line arguments are separated by the shell, which typically
uses whitespace and quoting.  It is highly undesirable to insert
additional, uncommon command line semantics to apt for your stated
purpose of copy-paste compatability, when it would not trivially be
achieved.

 status opinion


** Changed in: apt (Ubuntu)
       Status: New => Opinion

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1153703

Title:
  apt should ignore commas to facilitate copy and paste of package lists
  from apt-cache

Status in “apt” package in Ubuntu:
  Opinion

Bug description:
  Apt doesn't understand commas, for example:

  mfisch at caprica:~$ sudo apt-get install gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad, gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly
  ...
  E: Unable to locate package gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad,
  E: Couldn't find any package by regex 'gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad,'

  This is annoying when a user is trying to copy and paste package lists
  from the output of something like apt-cache show, which uses commas in
  all the depends, recommends, and suggests lists. This is a minor
  annoyance for sure, but I think the idea that the output of apt-cache
  show is compatible with the input of apt-get install makes sense.

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