To: submit@bugs.debian.org
Subject: removal of $OFFENDER makes files disappear from $VICTIM

Package: $OFFENDER
Affects: $VICTIM
Version:
Severity: serious
User: debian-qa@lists.debian.org
Usertags: piuparts replaces-without-breaks

Hi,

during a test with piuparts and DOSE tools I noticed your package causes
removal of files that also belong to another package.
This is caused by using Replaces without corresponding Breaks.

The installation sequence to reproduce this problem is

  apt-get install $VICTIM
  # (1)
  apt-get install $OFFENDER
  apt-get remove $OFFENDER
  # (2)

The list of installed files at points (1) and (2) should be identical,
but the following files have disappeared:


This is a serious bug violating policy 7.6, see
https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-relationships.html#overwriting-files-and-replacing-packages-replaces
and also see the footnote that describes this incorrect behavior:
https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-relationships.html#id13

The $OFFENDER package has the following relationships with $VICTIM:

  Conflicts:
  Breaks:
  Replaces:

From the attached log (scroll to the bottom...):


cheers,