"apt-listbugs" package of Debian derived distros

Hi All,

I don't know how many of you have faced problems when you have performed a dist-upgrade or even many times a simple package upgrade -- which completely breaks down your system into pieces...

One worst example to give: What if you upgraded your X server and the moment you start you system next time - you get no display at all???  I have faced this and many other types of similar problems many times....

So dont we have a pre step where the package manager or the apt tells that - Boss you are trying to upgrade to a new version - through which I will break your system???

Thanks.. And yes we do have a package like that.. Called the apt-listbugs

Installation of this package:

Issue the command apt-get install apt-listbugs or use synaptic.

From there on - any time you go for upgrading your package / or a complete dist upgrade... This particular software tells you - that there exists some bugs - with the bug numbers and the associated problems with it and the severity of the bug.

It would also ask you a question in the end as to - Do you still want to proceed Yes or No and ?

At this stage - you always have an option to decide your future system. But as long as the bugs are critical or severe - its advised not to go for an upgrade and simply type n and quit out of synaptic or Unmark the selected packages....

Also there is one more package called apt-listchanges which would note you the changes wrt apt or a particular deb file..

Access the man pages for both the commands to learn more about them...

Tc,
Ananth S Gouri