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Some packages list dependencies in their Depends: field like python:any or perl:any. What does the :any part mean?

Why would a package maintainer choose to list a dependency on python or perl in that way with :any?

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  • Can you give an example of such a package?
    – Pilot6
    Jan 30, 2020 at 15:59
  • An example would be Package jackd2 in ubuntu 18.04: Package: jackd2 Version: 1.9.12~dfsg-2build1 Depends: ..., python:any, ... Jan 30, 2020 at 16:46
  • Sorry the example package in my previous comment is from ubuntu 19.10 not ubuntu 18.04, but it has this python:any dependency. Jan 30, 2020 at 16:52
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    It is same on 18.04.
    – Pilot6
    Jan 30, 2020 at 16:53

1 Answer 1

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The word any means any architecture here.

For example, on a amd64 system any of amd64 or i386 will satisfy.

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  • That means that either amd64 or i386 will do for python. If you force a wrong arch, the dependenci will be satisfied, but that makes no sense.
    – Pilot6
    Jan 30, 2020 at 16:51
  • Why would a package maintainer choose to list a dependency on python or perl in that way with :any? Aug 9, 2020 at 20:01
  • Because it doesn't matter for these packages. Either one will do.
    – Pilot6
    Aug 9, 2020 at 20:21

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