TeXLive light version installed from a deb file

Question

In this answer, it is explained how a light version of TeXLive can be installed with the --no-install-recommends option, like this:

sudo apt-get install --no-install-recommends texlive-latex-extra

In the case of using a deb file to install TeXLive, how can you mimic the --no-install-recommends option to prevent extra documentation from being downloaded? What to add to the texlive-fonts-recommended (>= 2015.20160320-1ub) dependence?

Answer 1

One way to do that is globally block recommended packages for a while by creating an apt rule: https://superuser.com/a/615583

Then do the usual aptitude update before installing your .deb file.

After that, just delete the rule and do aptitude update again.