Debian Bug report logs - #661947
apt-get clean deletes /var/cache/apt/*.bin

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Message #5 received at submit@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Vagrant Cascadian <vagrant@debian.org>

To: Debian Bug Tracking System <submit@bugs.debian.org>

Subject: apt-get clean deletes /var/cache/apt/*.bin

Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2012 13:28:53 -0800

Package: apt
Version: 0.8.15.9
Severity: normal

when i run apt-get clean, it deletes the files /var/cache/apt/pkgcache.bin and
/var/cache/apt/srcpkgcache.bin.

this also applies to the version in experimental (0.8.16~exp12), but the
version in squeeze (0.8.10.3+squeeze1) doesn't exhibit this behavior.

is this an intentional change? 

removing *.bin causes some issues with copy-on-write root filesystems,
needlessly recreating the *.bin files, though i'm able to reproduce the
behavior on several fairly conventional installs as well.

thanks for the exellence that is apt!

live well,
  vagrant

Message #10 received at 661947@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Julian Andres Klode <jak@debian.org>

To: Vagrant Cascadian <vagrant@debian.org>, 661947@bugs.debian.org

Subject: Re: Bug#661947: apt-get clean deletes /var/cache/apt/*.bin

Date: Sat, 3 Mar 2012 12:24:43 +0100

On Fri, Mar 02, 2012 at 01:28:53PM -0800, Vagrant Cascadian wrote:
> Package: apt
> Version: 0.8.15.9
> Severity: normal
> 
> when i run apt-get clean, it deletes the files /var/cache/apt/pkgcache.bin and
> /var/cache/apt/srcpkgcache.bin.
> 
> this also applies to the version in experimental (0.8.16~exp12), but the
> version in squeeze (0.8.10.3+squeeze1) doesn't exhibit this behavior.
> 
> is this an intentional change? 

Removing the cache files in update/clean helps if your cache files
became corrupted somehow.

-- 
Julian Andres Klode  - Debian Developer, Ubuntu Member

See http://wiki.debian.org/JulianAndresKlode and http://jak-linux.org/.

Message #15 received at 661947@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: sergio <mailbox@sergio.spb.ru>

To: 661947@bugs.debian.org

Subject: apt-get clean deletes /var/cache/apt/*.bin

Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:34:58 +0400

apt-get clean must not remove pkgcache.bin and srcpkgcache.bin !

Everyone who says 'apt-get clean' doesn't expect, that it will remove
caches, moreover it's undocumented.

Clean is suitable to run after dist-upgrade as update before.
No one will say update after clean for create caches back.

Please, return the normal behaviour back, and doesn't touch it in the
future.

If anyone wants to repair corrupted cache, there are update.

-- 
sergio.

Message #20 received at 661947-done@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: David Kalnischkies <david@kalnischkies.de>

To: sergio <mailbox@sergio.spb.ru>

Cc: 661947-done@bugs.debian.org

Subject: Re: apt-get clean deletes /var/cache/apt/*.bin

Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2015 10:05:09 +0200

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

On Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 09:34:58PM +0400, sergio wrote:
> Clean is suitable to run after dist-upgrade as update before.
> No one will say update after clean for create caches back.

Any apt command will recreate the caches, not just update. On the other
hand, if the caches exist all commands will use it and if it is corrupt
they all will crash.

btw: At least the pkgcache is invalid after a dist-upgrade anyway.

If you want a command which just regenerates the caches to ensure they
are recent, try "apt-cache gencaches", but as said, any apt command
needing them will do that implicitely.


> If anyone wants to repair corrupted cache, there are update.

Corrupted caches result in segfaults. People do random things then they
encounter a segfault. Most browse the web and the first thing suggested
there is 'apt-get clean' as that helps with all sorts of problems.  It
is also consistent with other comments which use the clean subcommand to
remove intermediate files which can easily be regenerated if need be,
like make, git, ….

So, not a bug, but a feature/working as designed. Hence closing.


Best regards

David Kalnischkies

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