Ignoring dependencies in a Debian package

Usually it is not possible to install a package with `apt` or `aptitude`, ignoring a dependency. Sure, packages in the `Recommends` or `Suggests` section can be easily deselected, but not the ones in the `Depends` section.

Here's a method how to make the `Depends` optional too:

First, download the `deb` package locally:

Install the package specifying the dependencies that should be ignored:

Then edit `/var/lib/dpkg/status` and remove the reference to the dependency from the package description.

One caveat is that the package will then appear in the package manager as `upgradable`, but you can probably just pin the package by source to make it show up nicely, though I haven't tried that yet.

🏠 callistix Gemini capsule

Created: 5/Feb/2024

Modified: 5/Feb/2024