[Bug 1857018] [NEW] apt-get: Can not downgrade dependencies or anything with -t

[Jarno Suni]

Public bug reported:

Only the latter command downgrades the mythtv-frontend package (after
removing the PPA from /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ and running 'apt
update'):

$ sudo apt-get install mythtv-frontend -s -V -t bionic
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
mythtv-frontend is already the newest version (2:30.0+fixes.201912012038.a27754a~ubuntu18.04.1).
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 8 not upgraded.

$ sudo apt-get install mythtv-frontend/bionic -s -V
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Selected version '2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3' (Ubuntu:18.04/bionic [amd64]) for 'mythtv-frontend'
Suggested packages:
   mythtv-backend (2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3)
   mythmusic (2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3)
   mythweather (2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3)
   mythgallery (2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3)
   mythgame (2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3)
The following packages will be REMOVED:
   mythtv-dbg (2:30.0+fixes.201912012038.a27754a~ubuntu18.04.1)
The following packages will be DOWNGRADED:
   mythtv-frontend (2:30.0+fixes.201912012038.a27754a~ubuntu18.04.1 => 2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3)
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 downgraded, 1 to remove and 4 not upgraded.
Remv mythtv-dbg [2:30.0+fixes.201912012038.a27754a~ubuntu18.04.1]
Inst mythtv-frontend [2:30.0+fixes.201912012038.a27754a~ubuntu18.04.1] (2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3 Ubuntu:18.04/bionic [amd64])
Conf mythtv-frontend (2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3 Ubuntu:18.04/bionic [amd64])

I do not know, if there is a reason for the different behavior.
Anyway, I want to be able to easily downgrade the depending packages, too, retaining their auto/manual status.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
Package: apt 1.6.12
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.0.0-37.40~18.04.1-generic 5.0.21
Uname: Linux 5.0.0-37-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.9
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: XFCE
Date: Thu Dec 19 16:25:51 2019
InstallationDate: Installed on 2019-05-08 (224 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 18.04.2 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20190210)
SourcePackage: apt
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

** Affects: apt (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: amd64 apport-bug bionic

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1857018

Title:
   apt-get: Can not downgrade dependencies or anything with -t

Status in apt package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  Only the latter command downgrades the mythtv-frontend package (after
  removing the PPA from /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ and running 'apt
  update'):

  $ sudo apt-get install mythtv-frontend -s -V -t bionic
  Reading package lists... Done
  Building dependency tree       
  Reading state information... Done
  mythtv-frontend is already the newest version (2:30.0+fixes.201912012038.a27754a~ubuntu18.04.1).
  0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 8 not upgraded.

  $ sudo apt-get install mythtv-frontend/bionic -s -V
  Reading package lists... Done
  Building dependency tree       
  Reading state information... Done
  Selected version '2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3' (Ubuntu:18.04/bionic [amd64]) for 'mythtv-frontend'
  Suggested packages:
     mythtv-backend (2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3)
     mythmusic (2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3)
     mythweather (2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3)
     mythgallery (2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3)
     mythgame (2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3)
  The following packages will be REMOVED:
     mythtv-dbg (2:30.0+fixes.201912012038.a27754a~ubuntu18.04.1)
  The following packages will be DOWNGRADED:
     mythtv-frontend (2:30.0+fixes.201912012038.a27754a~ubuntu18.04.1 => 2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3)
  0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 downgraded, 1 to remove and 4 not upgraded.
  Remv mythtv-dbg [2:30.0+fixes.201912012038.a27754a~ubuntu18.04.1]
  Inst mythtv-frontend [2:30.0+fixes.201912012038.a27754a~ubuntu18.04.1] (2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3 Ubuntu:18.04/bionic [amd64])
  Conf mythtv-frontend (2:29.1+fixes.20180414.329c235-0ubuntu3 Ubuntu:18.04/bionic [amd64])

  I do not know, if there is a reason for the different behavior.
  Anyway, I want to be able to easily downgrade the depending packages, too, retaining their auto/manual status.

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
  Package: apt 1.6.12
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.0.0-37.40~18.04.1-generic 5.0.21
  Uname: Linux 5.0.0-37-generic x86_64
  NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
  ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.9
  Architecture: amd64
  CurrentDesktop: XFCE
  Date: Thu Dec 19 16:25:51 2019
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2019-05-08 (224 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 18.04.2 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20190210)
  SourcePackage: apt
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

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