#!/bin/sh -eu
#
# set package you want to hold:
package=xserver-xorg
#

sudo apt-get install equivs

mkdir -p ${meta:=$package-hold}
( cd $meta
  equivs-control control

  sed -i "
    s/^Priority.*/Essential: yes\nPriority: required/
    s/^Package.*/Package: $meta/
    s/^Description.*/Description: Metapackage to hold $package/
    /^ .*/d
  " control
  printf " This metapackage avoids $package to be removed\n" >>control

  equivs-build control

  printf "\nInstalling $meta...\n"
  sudo dpkg -i $meta*.deb
)
rm -fr $meta