Update the Debian bug report

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 65 views

Reports on Packages No Longer Installed (linux-image-XXX)

As a Linux user, it's essential to keep your system up-to-date and ensure that all packages are properly installed and removed. However, sometimes, you may encounter issues where packages that are no longer installed are still reported by your system. This article will focus on the problem of reports on packages no longer installed, specifically the linux-image-XXX packages.

The issue at hand is related to the debian-repro-status tool, which is used to check the reproducibility of packages on a Debian-based system. The tool uses dpkg-query to gather information about installed packages. However, as seen in the provided output, the tool is reporting on packages that are no longer installed.

paul@toba ~ $ debian-repro-status | grep linux-image-
[?] linux-image-6.1.0-27-amd64 amd64 6.1.115-1 UNKWN
[?] linux-image-6.11.10-amd64 amd64 6.11.10-1 UNKWN
[?] linux-image-6.11.7-amd64 amd64 6.11.7-1 UNKWN
[?] linux-image-6.11.9-amd64 amd64 6.11.9-1 UNKWN
[?] linux-image-6.12.10-amd64 amd64 6.12.10-1 UNKWN
[?] linux-image-6.12.11-amd64 amd64 6.12.11-1 UNKWN
[+] linux-image-6.12.12-amd64 amd64 6.12.12-1 GOOD
[?] linux-image-6.12.5-amd64 amd64 6.12.5-1 UNKWN
[?] linux-image-6.12.6-amd64 amd64 6.12.6-1 UNKWN
[?] linux-image-6.12.9-amd64 amd64 6.12.9-1 UNKWN
[+] linux-image-amd64 amd64 6.12.12-1 GOOD
 INFO  debian-repro-status > 1038/2885 packages are not reproducible.
 INFO  debian-repro-status > Your system is 64.02% reproducible.

This issue is related to a Debian bug report (1098439) that discusses the problem of dpkg-query not properly handling removed packages. The bug report suggests that the issue is due to the way dpkg-query uses the --list option to gather information about installed packages.

The code responsible for this issue is located in the dpkg.rs file of the debian-repro-status repository. Specifically, the code between lines 72 and 97 is responsible for gathering information about installed packages using dpkg-query.

https://github.com/kpcyrd/debian-repro-status/blob/5f4c566b10838f923d3707f89391d9a514df5e6d/src/dpkg.rs#L72-L97

In conclusion, the issue of reports on packages no longer installed is a problem that affects the debian-repro-status tool. The issue is related to the way dpkg-query uses the --list option to gather information about installed packages. The code responsible for this issue is located in the dpkg.rs file of the debian-repro-status repository. To resolve this issue, the code needs to be modified to properly handle removed packages.

To resolve this issue, the following recommendations can be made:

Modify the code: Modify the code in the dpkg.rs file to properly handle removed packages.
Use a different method: Consider using a different method to gather information about installed packages, such as using the dpkg --list command with the --status-fd option.
Update the Debian bug report: Update the Debian bug report (1098439) to reflect the changes made to the code.

In the future, it would be beneficial to:

Improve the code: Improve the code in the dpkg.rs file to make it more robust and efficient.
Add more features: Add more features to the debian-repro-status tool to make it more useful and informative.
Test the tool: Test the tool thoroughly to ensure that it works correctly and efficiently.

In conclusion, the issue of reports on packages no longer installed is a problem that affects the debian-repro-status tool. The issue is related to the way dpkg-query uses the --list option to gather information about installed packages. To resolve this issue, the code needs to be modified to properly handle removed packages. The recommendations made in this article can be used to resolve this issue and improve the debian-repro-status tool.
Q&A: Reports on Packages No Longer Installed (linux-image-XXX)

In our previous article, we discussed the issue of reports on packages no longer installed, specifically the linux-image-XXX packages. This article will provide a Q&A section to further clarify the issue and provide additional information.

A: The issue with the debian-repro-status tool is that it reports on packages that are no longer installed. This is due to the way dpkg-query uses the --list option to gather information about installed packages.

A: This is a problem because it can lead to incorrect information being reported by the debian-repro-status tool. This can cause confusion and make it difficult to determine the actual reproducibility of packages on a system.

A: The cause of this issue is related to the way dpkg-query uses the --list option to gather information about installed packages. Specifically, the issue is due to the fact that dpkg-query does not properly handle removed packages.

A: This issue can be resolved by modifying the code in the dpkg.rs file to properly handle removed packages. Alternatively, a different method can be used to gather information about installed packages, such as using the dpkg --list command with the --status-fd option.

A: The implications of this issue are that it can lead to incorrect information being reported by the debian-repro-status tool. This can cause confusion and make it difficult to determine the actual reproducibility of packages on a system.

A: To test the debian-repro-status tool, you can use the following command:

debian-repro-status

This will report on the reproducibility of packages on your system. You can also use the --verbose option to get more detailed information:

debian-repro-status --verbose

A: To contribute to the debian-repro-status tool, you can submit a pull request to the debian-repro-status repository on GitHub. You can also report any issues or bugs you encounter to the Debian bug tracker.

A: The current status of the issue is that it is being tracked in the Debian bug tracker (bug 1098439). A patch has been submitted to resolve the issue, but it has not yet been applied.

In conclusion, the issue of reports on packages no longer installed is a problem that affects the debian-repro-status tool. The issue is related to the way dpkg-query uses the --list option to gather information about installed packages. To resolve this issue, the code needs to be modified to properly handle removed packages. The Q&A section in this article provides additional information and answers to common questions about the issue.