Bug#1020290: init-system-helpers depends on usrmerge | usr-is-merged

[Craig Sanders]

Package: init-system-helpers
Version: 1.65.2

dist-upgrade was broken on four systems tonight due to:

Depends: usrmerge | usr-is-merged

This effectively makes these packages Essential by stealth.  Debian's usrmerge
FAQ says:

    * Is it mandatory to install this package?
    No.


All four systems (3 running systemd, one running sysvinit - because systemd
is incapable of booting this machine) gave the following error message and
aborted the upgrade:

    Selecting previously unselected package usr-is-merged.
    Preparing to unpack .../01-usr-is-merged_30+nmu1_all.deb ...


    ******************************************************************************
    *
    * The usr-is-merged package cannot be installed because this system does
    * not have a merged /usr.
    *
    * Please install the usrmerge package to convert this system to merged-/usr.
    *
    * For more information please read https://wiki.debian.org/UsrMerge.
    *
    ******************************************************************************


    dpkg: error processing archive /tmp/user/0/apt-dpkg-install-zRN5ON/01-usr-is-merged_30+nmu1_all.deb (--unpack):
     new usr-is-merged package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
    .
    .
    .
    Errors were encountered while processing:
     /tmp/user/0/apt-dpkg-install-zRN5ON/01-usr-is-merged_30+nmu1_all.deb
    E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)


This could only be fixed by reverting back to 1.64 and purging usr-is-merged,
followed by 'apt-mark hold init-system-helpers' of course.


This is an essential package.  Why is it forcing this usr merge idiocy on me,
even on systems that don't run systemd? what actual benefit does it provide?

And WTF does forcing usrmerge have to do with init-system-helpers' purpose?
How does forcing usrmerge qualify as a helper tool for switching between "all"
init systems?


    Description-en: helper tools for all init systems
     This package contains helper tools that are necessary for switching
     between the various init systems that Debian contains (e. g. sysvinit
     or systemd). An example is deb-systemd-helper, a script that enables
     systemd unit files without depending on a running systemd.
     .
     It also includes the "service", "invoke-rc.d", and "update-rc.d"
     scripts which provide an abstraction for enabling, disabling,
     starting, and stopping services for all supported Debian init systems
     as specified by the policy.
     .
     While this package is maintained by pkg-systemd-maintainers, it is
     NOT specific to systemd at all. Maintainers of other init systems are
     welcome to include their helpers in this package.


craig

ps: I'm annoyed enough that this tried to install usr-is-merged and failed.
I would have been furious if it had successfully installed usrmerge and
irreversibly fucked with my filesystems without warning and especially without
my CONSENT.