[Bug 1988819] Re: When apt keeps back packages due to phased updates, it should say nothing

[Gone fishing]

I've been using Ubuntu since Warty or Breezy, and I have had very few
incidents of an update breaking the system. I think an update in Hardy
broke the X server once. Getting to the point - this phased update
system had me thinking something had gone horribly wrong with apt and
the package database. Maybe the cure is not worse than the problem, but
it appears to be.

I would suggest that, as we now have apt messages:

# News about significant security updates, features and services will
# appear here to raise awareness and perhaps tease /r/Linux ;)
# Use 'pro config set apt_news=false' to hide this and future APT news.

May be added to the news could be something about phased updates such as: 
# You may see packages being held back as part of phased updates - these packages are being held back to ensure system stability. 
# If you want to turn off phased updates, create a file in /etc/apt/apt.conf.d, containing the following lines:

Update-Manager::Always-Include-Phased-Updates;
APT::Get::Always-Include-Phased-Updates

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1988819

Title:
  When apt keeps back packages due to phased updates, it should say
  nothing

Status in apt package in Ubuntu:
  Triaged

Bug description:
  After phased updates have been introduced, it may happen that apt
  upgrade shows packages as upgradable but ends up not upgrading them.
  In this case the packages are indicated as being "kept back".

  Unfortunately, the feedback provided about this to the user is not
  very informative. The user sees the packages being kept back and
  thinks something is going wrong on the system.

  When packages are kept back because of phased updates, apt should say
  so e.g., it should say that the upgrade is delayed.

  Incidentally note that aptitude does not respect phased updates.

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 22.04
  Package: apt 2.4.7
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.15.0-47.51-generic 5.15.46
  Uname: Linux 5.15.0-47-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu82.1
  Architecture: amd64
  CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
  CurrentDesktop: KDE
  Date: Tue Sep  6 10:05:14 2022
  EcryptfsInUse: Yes
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2020-02-16 (933 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 19.10 "Eoan Ermine" - Release amd64 (20191017)
  SourcePackage: apt
  UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to jammy on 2022-06-03 (94 days ago)

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