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Let's say I have a package A which has Depends: B (>= 1.0.0) in its control file.

The B was installed as an A dependency some time ago with 1.0.0 version.

Now B was updated in the repository to the 1.0.42 version and I'd like to upgrade it.

What I don't like to do: apt-get install B since it will mark B as "manually installed" (not sure how to name it correctly) package and it won't be removed with autoremove if I decide to stop using A ever.

So is there an analogue of apt-get upgrade that only upgrades a particular package and its dependencies (probably recursive, it doesn't matter in my case since B doesn't depend on anything else) only?

PS: I'm asking about currently available LTS versions. So 10.04 and 12.04

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    apt-get install --only-upgrade might pass muster.. but I'm not sure. – Seth Nov 7 '13 at 22:12
  • @Seth: Hm, I don't see such an option in man – zerkms Nov 7 '13 at 22:16
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    Which Ubuntu version? In 13.04 at least, don't remember for earlier versions, using apt-get install B to upgrade the package should not mark it as manually installed. As long as there is a new version for it in the repo after you apt-get update – Dan Nov 7 '13 at 22:19
  • @Dan: LTS ones, sorry I didn't mention that originally – zerkms Nov 7 '13 at 22:22
  • @Dan: just checked it - installing a package explicitly with apt-get install *does mark a package as installed manually. Checked it in 12.04 using apt-mark showauto. It can be fixed with apt-mark though – zerkms Nov 7 '13 at 22:25
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Well, if there won't be another answer - here is one way of doing that:

Just install it with apt-get install B explicitly, then mark it as auto installed using apt-mark markauto B

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Being specific to your question, I'd do:

  • apt-get update to resynchronize the package index files from their sources.
  • apt-get install B will install the latest version.
  • apt-mark auto B to mark it automatically installed

To upgrade a particular package:

  • apt-get update
  • apt-get install <package_name> this installs the updated package... there... the package is upgraded unlike apt-get upgrade which would upgrade all upgradable packages.

In case you want particular version of a package you'd do:

  • apt-get <package_name>=<verson> or apt-get -t <version> <package_name>

With apt-get -t <version> <package_name>, you could specify target-release as -t '2.1*', -t unstable or -t sid.

If you want a list of available versions:

  • apt-cache showpkg <package_name>
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  • I'm not sure you understand the question correctly. – zerkms Nov 9 '13 at 6:18
  • If you're concerned with removing orphaned dependencies/packages you might want to try debfoster, gtkorphan in case you haven't already. – precise Nov 10 '13 at 5:13

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