aptitude-run-state-bundle

aptitude-run-state-bundle [options] bundle-file

-h, --help
    Display command-line option summary and exit

-V, --version
    Print program version information and exit

-v, --verbose
    Increase output verbosity (may be repeated)

-q, --quiet
    Reduce output verbosity (may be repeated)

-y, --assume-yes
    Automatically answer "yes" to confirmation prompts

-n, --dry-run
    Simulate actions without modifying the system

The aptitude-run-state-bundle command is a utility for Debian-based systems that loads and executes a state bundle file previously generated by aptitude --save-state-bundle.

State bundles capture a snapshot of Aptitude's dependency resolver state, including proposed package installations, upgrades, removals, and holds at a specific moment. This enables precise reproduction of resolver decisions, aiding debugging of complex dependency issues, sharing problematic states with developers, or applying identical package changes across multiple machines without re-solving dependencies.

Upon invocation with a bundle file, the command simulates or applies the bundled actions using Aptitude's backend. It supports common interaction controls like assuming "yes" to prompts, dry-run previews, and verbosity adjustments. Bundles are binary files, typically architecture- and version-specific, ensuring resolver fidelity but limiting portability.

This tool enhances Aptitude's ecosystem for reproducible package management workflows, particularly in testing, CI/CD pipelines, or troubleshooting environments where dependency graphs are intricate.

State bundles are not portable across architectures, distributions, or significantly different Aptitude versions; always verify compatibility. Execution may still prompt if --assume-yes is omitted and issues arise.

aptitude-run-state-bundle my-bundle.bundle --dry-run --verbose
Previews actions from the bundle without changes.

Generate bundles via aptitude safe-upgrade --save-state-bundle my-bundle.bundle after reaching desired resolver state.

Introduced in Aptitude 0.6.3 (2012) to support advanced resolver debugging amid growing dependency complexity in Debian repositories. Evolved with Aptitude's multi-objective solver enhancements, emphasizing reproducibility.

aptitude(8), apt-cache(8), dpkg(1)