Re: Mention depends, rdepends & policy subcommands in apt man page
On Mon, Dec 09, 2019 at 09:49:31AM +0100, Julian Andres Klode wrote:
> On Mon, Dec 09, 2019 at 08:10:04AM +0000, Vipul wrote:
> > > apt -h:
> > > | Most used commands:
> >
> > Indeed, subcommands which are mentioned in apt man page are most
> > frequently used subcommands, and a normal user don't need to know more
> > that, for basic package operations. But, sometimes user also encounters
> > to command like "apt depends/rdepends/policy <package>"; since, man page
> > is the first place where, users look for help.
> >
> >
> > > There might be a point in at least mentioning the other commands in the
> > > manpage and refer to the manpages they are described in like:
> > > depends, rdepends, policy, …: apt-cache(8)
> > > source, download, changelog, build-dep, …: apt-get(8)
> >
> > So in my humble opinion, it would be a great idea to mention these
> > subcommands in man page, in above form, or at least some information,
> > where user can look more details about it.
>
> I disagree strongly, for {r,}depends. These commands are not useful for
> end-users, or anyone really. Nobody should be using them, they're like
> dotty or xvgc or showpkg. rdepends is particularly terrible - it does not
> show reverse Depends, but also Recommends and other stuff, but does not tell
> you what is what - do not use it. just do not use it.
OK, apt rdepends actually shows you types, but it's still very confusing
stuff.
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