Package: apt
version: 1.8.4
severity: wishlist

apt command does not show which package provides a virtual package.

$ apt show ruby-gitaly-proto
Package: ruby-gitaly-proto
State: not a real package (virtual)
N: Can't select candidate version from package ruby-gitaly-proto as it has no candidate N: Can't select versions from package 'ruby-gitaly-proto' as it is purely virtual
N: No packages found

whereas aptitude does this correctly.

$ aptitude show ruby-gitaly-proto
No candidate version found for ruby-gitaly-proto
Package: ruby-gitaly-proto
State: not a real package
Provided by: ruby-gitaly (1.32.0+dfsg-1)

With versioned provides option, Provides: in debian/control is more widely used than before, especially in javascript packages, where creating new binary packages are discouraged in favor of Provides:

apt policy should also consider Provides: field

$ apt policy ruby-gitaly-proto
ruby-gitaly-proto:
 Installed: (none)
 Candidate: (none)
 Version table:


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