package get updated even though locked in Synaptic

[Humphrey van Polanen Petel]

virtualbox 5.0.18-dfsg-2build1 gets updated to 5.1.34-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2 even though it was locked in Synaptic

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: synaptic 0.83
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-38.43~16.04.1-generic 4.13.16
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-38-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.16
Architecture: amd64
Date: Mon Apr 23 15:25:04 2018
ExecutablePath: /usr/sbin/synaptic
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-12-13 (130 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170801)
SourcePackage: synaptic
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hello Humphrey,
Thank you for submitting this bug and reporting a problem with synaptic. You made this bug report some time ago and Ubuntu has been updated since then.

Could you confirm that this is no longer a problem and that we can close the ticket?
If it is still a problem, are you still interested in finding a solution to this bug?
If you are, could you let us know, and in the current version, run the following (only once):
apport-collect 1766161
and upload the updated logs and and any other logs that are relevant for this particular issue.

Thank you again for helping make Ubuntu better.
G

[Humphrey van Polanen Petel (hpvpp)]

I haven't been in the situation that I needed to use Synaptic like I described, but I haven't see a fix so IMO it is still a bug that needs to be fixed.

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Humprey. Thanks for the update.

Would you provide exact steps as to how to produce this error?

Take care
:)
G

[Paul White (paulw2u)]

I can reproduce this so I'll mark the report as affecting me too.

1) Open synaptic and identify one or more packages that are not to be upgraded
2) Mark them with "Lock version" - they get shown as "Pinned"
3) Close synaptic
4) Add PPA that would provide an update to those packages
5) Reload packages in synaptic to verify packages pinned correctly
4) In a terminal run "sudo apt update" and "sudo apt upgrade" - packages are upgraded
5) Open synaptic
6) Packages are still shown as "Pinned" but against the updated version numbers

Not the best example I know but it does show that the pinning of packages in synaptic isn't recognised by running apt or apt-get commands in a terminal. I have a feeling that the opposite applies too. Holding packages with apt-mark doesn't stop synaptic from upgrading those packages.

This was tested with synaptic 0.84.3ubuntu1 in Ubuntu 18.10 (dev)

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Paul,
Thanks for confirming this issue and for updating the status.

What importance would you assign to this bug report?

Take care and thanks again for taking the time to detail how to recreate the bug.
:)
G

[Paul White (paulw2u)]

The last time I reported a bug that affected synaptic I was told by a developer: "Marking as low considering that synaptic is not officially supported". I would have marked it as such myself but I don't (yet) have that capability. :)

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I agree and I will get someone to change the status.
Take care
:)
G

[Humphrey van Polanen Petel (hpvpp)]

It is heartening that know that even old bugs are not forgotten.
Thank you.
Humphrey

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Humphrey,
Again, sorry for the delay and the initial lack of response to your original report. The bug reports are handled by people from around the globe, the majority of whom are volunteers. Unfortunately, they missed this one and it fell down in the queue.

I just started bug triaging a little over a month ago and thought I would start by trying to clear up some of these old bug reports.

Now that this bug report is confirmed, hopefully they will action it soon. Though, I must advise that since it will be classified as a low priority ticket, it may take a long time for them to action it, as the programmers themselves are also volunteers. Thank you for your patience. I will keep an eye on this ticket to watch for progress.

I apologize again for them not getting back to you, originally.

Take care
:)
G

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Thanks for changing the importance level, Simon!
Have a great day.
:)
G

[Paul White (paulw2u)]

Today I've marked bug 1732946 as a duplicate of this one but I'm tempted to mark this as a duplicate of bug 42178 which was filed back in 2006 and has several duplicates. It seems that apt not respecting the locking of files in synaptic and v.v. was an intentional change, see the first few comments of that bug. So synaptic is working as designed.

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Paul,
I agree that bug 42178 is the primary bug report this issue. It has the best description, a possible workaround, the most history and most number of users affected. This bug here (1766161) could be closed as a duplicate of 42178.

However, 60 minutes ago, Raimondo is advocating that 42178 should be closed as "won't fix."
I support whatever choice you make on this, Paul.

And perhaps the importance of 42178 should be "medium" as it is "severe impact on a non-core application." Even though someone said it is not supported, I believe Synaptic is still being used by a lot of people.

I use Synaptic because I cannot find all the software I need in the Ubuntu Software app. Synaptic is the first software I install when I get a new version of Ubuntu.
Thanks
G

[Paul White (paulw2u)]

Ok G, I didn't want to just make it a duplicate as you had been working on this bug with Humphrey. I saw Raimondo's comment as I'm subscribed to all synaptic bugs. I don't think increasing the importance is going to get anyone to fix this issue any quicker if at all.

Closing now by marking as a duplicate.

Side note: If you don't mind a console application take a look at aptitude for searching, holding or installing/upgrading multiple applications. It's a true front-end to apt unlike synaptic.

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Thanks for the suggestion, Paul. I will look at aptitude. I was not aware it was different from apt or apt-get.
Take care
:)
G

[Humphrey van Polanen Petel (hpvpp)]

Dear people,

Ubuntu Software has Synaptic, but not Aptitude, and apt and apt-get
appear to be installed by default.  Three (four if counting apt and
apt-get) different ways of doing things here. Why are you making things
so complicated for us, simple people?

Regards,

Humphrey

On 10/09/18 10:52, gf wrote:
> *** This bug is a duplicate of bug 42178 ***
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/42178
>
> Thanks for the suggestion, Paul. I will look at aptitude. I was not aware it was different from apt or apt-get.
> Take care
> :)
> G
>

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Sorry Humphrey. Paul was responding to my comment about not being able to find the software I need in the ubuntu software app. I have since looked at aptitude and I still prefer synaptic.

This issue is still open, under bug number 42178. Will you look at that other bug?
Thanks
G

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi again Humphrey,
Please subscribe yourself to the bug number 42178, so you can follow and comment on the conversation there. Someone just responded there yesterday also reporting the bug on their computer.
Take care.
:)
G

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Humphrey,
See also this bug:
https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=276655

which has been associated with the 42178 bug and is the "upstream" bug that has been reported to Debian.

Hope this helps

G

[Humphrey van Polanen Petel (hpvpp)]

Hi G,
I am happy to report a problem and answer questions about it, but I my interests lie elsewhere. Sorry.
Humphrey

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Ok, Humphrey. Just wanted to make sure you were satisfied with the response on this bug report.
Talk to you again.
:)
G