feat(info): show the install reason and drop the indentation

N? and `info PKG` now print three lines, none indented:

    PKG: <description>
    reason: explicitly installed | installed as a dependency | unknown | not installed
    required by: <installed dependents, comma separated> | nothing

The reason comes from a new <be>_reason backend function: apt-mark
showauto / showmanual (dpkg decides for a package in neither list), the
Install Reason of pacman -Qi, dnf repoquery --installed %{reason} (dnf4
and dnf5 words) and the Installed line of zypper info (rpm plus libzypp's
AutoInstalled when zypper is locked). A row whose old version is "-" is
not installed and the backend is not asked. The "(installed)" qualifier
moves to --help, README and DESIGN.

The rpm E2E fixture and e2e_reset now also mark su-dummy-a and su-dummy-c
as user-installed on dnf, which records plain rpm installs as "unknown",
so 1? and 2? show both reasons on all 12 distros. The verified commands
are recorded in discovery/{apt,pacman,rpm}.md.

tests/e2e/fixtures/rpm.sh

@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@
 #   so it is a pre-existing unneeded package (dnf repoquery --unneeded / zypper packages --unneeded).
 #
 # Optional (SU_FIXTURE_B_AUTO=1): su-dummy-b counts as installed as a dependency (dnf: `dnf mark
-#   remove`, zypper: /var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled), like the pacman fixture's --asdeps.
+#   remove`, zypper: /var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled), like the pacman fixture's --asdeps; on dnf
+#   su-dummy-a and su-dummy-c also count as installed by the user (`dnf mark install`): dnf4 reports
+#   packages installed with plain rpm as reason "unknown" (dnf5: "External User"). zypper needs
+#   nothing for them: a package that is not in AutoInstalled is user-installed.
 #
 # Re-runnable: re-running resets everything to the "1.0 installed, 2.0 available" state.
 #
@@ -198,7 +201,11 @@ fi
 if [ "${SU_FIXTURE_B_AUTO:-0}" = 1 ]; then
   case $BACKEND in
     zypper) grep -qx su-dummy-b /var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled 2>/dev/null || echo su-dummy-b >>/var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled ;;
-    dnf|yum) "$BACKEND" -q mark remove su-dummy-b >/dev/null ;;
+    dnf|yum)
+      # dnf4 spelling first, then dnf5's (which asks for confirmation)
+      "$BACKEND" -q mark remove su-dummy-b >/dev/null 2>&1 || "$BACKEND" -q -y mark dependency su-dummy-b >/dev/null
+      "$BACKEND" -q mark install su-dummy-a su-dummy-c >/dev/null 2>&1 || "$BACKEND" -q -y mark user su-dummy-a su-dummy-c >/dev/null
+      ;;
   esac
   log "su-dummy-b marked as installed as a dependency"
 fi

tests/e2e/helpers.bash

@@ -132,10 +132,14 @@ e2e_reset() {
 		rpm -Uvh --oldpackage --replacepkgs /var/tmp/su-fixture/RPMS/*/su-dummy-[abc]-1.0-1.*.rpm >/dev/null 2>&1
 		;;
 	esac
-	# su-dummy-b is a dependency of su-dummy-a (installed as such), on every backend
+	# su-dummy-b is a dependency of su-dummy-a (installed as such), on every backend; su-dummy-a and
+	# su-dummy-c were installed by the user (dnf records plain rpm installs as reason unknown)
 	case $BE in
 	apt) apt-mark auto su-dummy-orphan su-dummy-b >/dev/null ;;
-	dnf) dnf -q mark remove su-dummy-b >/dev/null 2>&1 ;;
+	dnf)
+		dnf -q mark remove su-dummy-b >/dev/null 2>&1 || dnf -q -y mark dependency su-dummy-b >/dev/null 2>&1
+		dnf -q mark install su-dummy-a su-dummy-c >/dev/null 2>&1 || dnf -q -y mark user su-dummy-a su-dummy-c >/dev/null 2>&1
+		;;
 	zypper) grep -qx su-dummy-b /var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled 2>/dev/null || echo su-dummy-b >>/var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled ;;
 	esac
 	[[ $(versions) == "a=1.0 b=1.0 c=1.0" && $(pkg_ver su-dummy-orphan) == 1.0 ]] || {

tests/e2e/skeptical-updater.bats

@@ -32,14 +32,27 @@ zypper_verb() { case $(. /etc/os-release && printf '%s' "$ID") in opensuse-tumbl
 	refute_line --regexp '^.\[4\]'
 }
 
-@test "N? prints the description; su-dummy-b is required by su-dummy-a" {
+@test "N? prints the description, the install reason and who requires it" {
+	local -a lines_=()
+	local i a=-1 b=-1
 	run skeptical-updater --no-refresh <<<$'1?\n2?\nq'
 	assert_success
 	assert_line --regexp '^su-dummy-a: .*([Dd]ummy|skeptical-updater).*$'
 	assert_line --regexp '^su-dummy-b: .*([Dd]ummy|skeptical-updater).*$'
-	# [1] su-dummy-a has no installed reverse dependency, [2] su-dummy-b is needed by su-dummy-a
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): nothing'
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-a'
+	# [1] su-dummy-a was installed explicitly and nothing needs it; [2] su-dummy-b was installed as
+	# a dependency of su-dummy-a - the two lines right under each description, no indentation
+	mapfile -t lines_ <<<"$output"
+	for i in "${!lines_[@]}"; do
+		case ${lines_[i]} in
+		'su-dummy-a: '*) a=$i ;;
+		'su-dummy-b: '*) b=$i ;;
+		esac
+	done
+	[[ ${lines_[a + 1]} == 'reason: explicitly installed' && ${lines_[a + 2]} == 'required by: nothing' ]] ||
+		fail "1? (su-dummy-a): got '${lines_[a + 1]}' / '${lines_[a + 2]}'"
+	[[ ${lines_[b + 1]} == 'reason: installed as a dependency' && ${lines_[b + 2]} == 'required by: su-dummy-a' ]] ||
+		fail "2? (su-dummy-b): got '${lines_[b + 1]}' / '${lines_[b + 2]}'"
+	refute_output --partial 'required by (installed)'
 	assert_line 'Quit: nothing was upgraded.'
 }
 
@@ -250,7 +263,11 @@ zypper_verb() { case $(. /etc/os-release && printf '%s' "$ID") in opensuse-tumbl
 	assert_line --partial "$BE"$'\t'"su-dummy-c"$'\t'"user"
 	run asuser skeptical-updater info su-dummy-b
 	assert_success
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-a'
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	assert_line 'required by: su-dummy-a'
+	run asuser skeptical-updater info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: explicitly installed'
 	run asuser skeptical-updater --dry-run --no-refresh <<<''
 	assert_success
 	assert_line --regexp "$(native_upgrade_regex)"

tests/unit/data/apt/auto.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+gcc-12-base
+libc6
+libgcc-s1
+mawk
+su-dummy-b
+su-dummy-orphan

tests/unit/data/rpm/db.bash

@@ -51,6 +51,13 @@ declare -A PROVIDES=(
 	[ncurses-libs]=$'ncurses-libs\nlibtinfo.so.6()(64bit)'
 	[redhat-rpm-config]=redhat-rpm-config [rpm]=rpm
 )
+# what dnf4 records as the install reason (`repoquery --installed --qf %{reason}`; the fake dnf
+# speaks dnf5's words with FAKE_DNF_MAJOR=5): plain `rpm -i` leaves "unknown"
+declare -A REASON=(
+	[su-dummy-a]=user [su-dummy-b]=dependency [su-dummy-c]=unknown [su-dummy-d]=user
+	[bash]=user [glibc]=dependency [glibc-common]=dependency [glibc-gconv-extra]=weak-dependency
+	[basesystem]=group [setup]=dependency [filesystem]=dependency
+)
 # FAKE_RPM_NO_D=1: su-dummy-d (which requires every dummy) is not installed
 declare -A FILES=(
 	[su-dummy-a]=/usr/share/su-dummy/su-dummy-a [su-dummy-b]=/usr/share/su-dummy/su-dummy-b

tests/unit/data/zypper/info-su-dummy-b.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+
+
+Information for package su-dummy-b:
+-----------------------------------
+Repository     : su-dummy
+Name           : su-dummy-b
+Version        : 2.0-1
+Arch           : noarch
+Vendor         :
+Installed Size : 15 B
+Installed      : Yes (automatically)
+Status         : out-of-date (version 1.0-1 installed)
+Source package : su-dummy-b-2.0-1.src
+Summary        : skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-b (v2.0)
+Description    :
+    Dummy package su-dummy-b version 2.0 for skeptical-updater tests.
+
+    Second paragraph of su-dummy-b 2.0 (blank line above on purpose).
+

tests/unit/data/zypper/info-su-dummy-orphan-parent.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+
+
+Information for package su-dummy-orphan-parent:
+-----------------------------------------------
+Repository     : su-dummy
+Name           : su-dummy-orphan-parent
+Version        : 1.0-1
+Arch           : noarch
+Vendor         :
+Installed Size : 27 B
+Installed      : No
+Status         : not installed
+Source package : su-dummy-orphan-parent-1.0-1.src
+Summary        : skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-orphan-parent (v1.0)
+Description    :
+    Dummy package su-dummy-orphan-parent version 1.0 for skeptical-updater tests.
+
+    Second paragraph of su-dummy-orphan-parent 1.0 (blank line above on purpose).
+

tests/unit/fakes/apt/apt-mark

@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
 # FAKE_APT_MARK_UNHOLD_SIGNAL=SIG: send SIG to the applet before an unhold (a second Ctrl-C).
 # FAKE_APT_MARK_UNHOLD_RC=N: unhold fails (nothing released). FAKE_APT_MARK_FAIL_MSG: the message a
 # failing hold prints. Every unhold logs whether $STATE_DIR/holds.lock is held by someone.
+# showauto/showmanual: installed = the "?i" rows of data/apt/dpkg-status.tsv (not purged), auto = those
+# listed in data/apt/auto.txt, manual = the others; FAKE_APT_MARK_NEITHER="pkg ..." are in neither
+# list, FAKE_APT_MARK_SHOW_RC=N makes both fail. Like the real ones they print only the named
+# packages (all of them without a name), native packages without their ":arch" qualifier.
 # shellcheck source=../fakelib.bash
 . "${BASH_SOURCE[0]%/*}/../fakelib.bash"
 fake_log "$@"
@@ -27,8 +31,30 @@ case $verb in hold | unhold)
 	fi
 	;;
 esac
+# show_marked auto|manual NAME...
+show_marked() {
+	local want=$1 n st name mark
+	shift
+	local -A pick=()
+	for n in "$@"; do pick[${n%:all}]=1; done
+	if [[ -n ${FAKE_APT_MARK_SHOW_RC:-} ]]; then
+		echo "E: Unable to determine the package states" >&2
+		exit "$FAKE_APT_MARK_SHOW_RC"
+	fi
+	while IFS=$'\t' read -r st name _; do
+		[[ $st == ?i* ]] || continue
+		fake_purged "$name" && continue
+		[[ " ${FAKE_APT_MARK_NEITHER:-} " == *" $name "* ]] && continue
+		if grep -qxF -- "$name" "$FAKE_DATA/apt/auto.txt"; then mark=auto; else mark=manual; fi
+		[[ $mark == "$want" ]] || continue
+		if (($# == 0)) || [[ -n ${pick[$name]:-} || -n ${pick[$name:amd64]:-} ]]; then printf '%s\n' "$name"; fi
+	done <"$FAKE_DATA/apt/dpkg-status.tsv" | sort
+}
+
 case $verb in
 showhold) sort "$h" ;;
+showauto) show_marked auto "$@" ;;
+showmanual) show_marked manual "$@" ;;
 hold)
 	for p in "$@"; do
 		if grep -qxF -- "$p" "$h"; then echo "$p was already set on hold."; else

tests/unit/fakes/apt/dpkg-query

@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
 # Copyright (C) 2026 Bryan Joshua Pedini
 
-# fake dpkg-query (unit tests): the dpkg database dump used for dependency closures
+# fake dpkg-query (unit tests): the dpkg database dump used for dependency closures, and
+# `-W -f '${db:Status-Abbrev}' NAME` (the status of one package; purged = unknown to dpkg)
 # shellcheck source=../fakelib.bash
 . "${BASH_SOURCE[0]%/*}/../fakelib.bash"
 fake_log "$@"
@@ -10,7 +11,30 @@ fake_log "$@"
 st=${SKEPTICAL_UPDATER_STATE_DIR:-}/trusted.tsv
 if [[ -n ${FAKE_STATE_APPEND:-} ]]; then printf '%s\n' "$FAKE_STATE_APPEND" >>"$st"; fi
 if [[ -n ${FAKE_STATE_SED:-} ]]; then sed -i "$FAKE_STATE_SED" "$st"; fi
-case " $* " in
+args=" $* "
+names=()
+while (($#)); do
+	case $1 in
+	-f) shift ;;
+	-*) ;;
+	*) names+=("$1") ;;
+	esac
+	shift
+done
+if ((${#names[@]})); then
+	rc=0
+	for n in "${names[@]}"; do
+		st=$(awk -F'\t' -v n="${n%:amd64}" '$2 == n { print $1; exit }' "$FAKE_DATA/apt/dpkg-status.tsv")
+		if [[ -z $st ]] || fake_purged "${n%:amd64}"; then
+			echo "dpkg-query: no packages found matching $n" >&2
+			rc=1
+			continue
+		fi
+		printf '%s' "$st"
+	done
+	exit "$rc"
+fi
+case $args in
 *' -W '*) cat "$FAKE_DATA/apt/dpkg-status.tsv" ;;
 *)
 	echo "fake dpkg-query: unhandled: $*" >&2

tests/unit/fakes/dnf/dnf

@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@
 # fake dnf (unit tests). FAKE_DNF_MAJOR=4|5 picks the output dialect; FAKE_DNF_CHECK_RC=0|1 simulates
 # "no updates" / an error; FAKE_DNF_CHECK=obsoletes replays a check-update with only an
 # "Obsoleting Packages" section; FAKE_DNF_REMOVE_REFUSE=1 makes `--assumeno remove` fail;
-# removal tables: see the --assumeno remove branch.
+# removal tables: see the --assumeno remove branch. `repoquery --installed --qf %{reason}`: REASON of
+# data/rpm/db.bash (dnf5's words with FAKE_DNF_MAJOR=5), FAKE_DNF_REASON="pkg=raw value" overrides
+# it, FAKE_DNF_REPOQUERY_RC=N makes repoquery fail.
 # shellcheck source=../fakelib.bash
 . "${BASH_SOURCE[0]%/*}/../fakelib.bash"
 # shellcheck source=../../data/rpm/db.bash
@@ -41,7 +43,28 @@ case " $* " in
 	;;
 *' repoquery '*)
 	p=${pos[-1]}
+	rc=$(fake_rc FAKE_DNF_REPOQUERY_RC 0)
+	if ((rc)); then
+		echo "Error: rpmdb open failed" >&2
+		exit "$rc"
+	fi
 	case " $* " in
+	*' --installed '*'%{reason}'*)
+		installed "$p" || exit 0
+		r=${REASON[$p]:-unknown}
+		if ((major == 5)); then
+			case $r in
+			user) r=User ;;
+			dependency) r=Dependency ;;
+			weak-dependency) r='Weak Dependency' ;;
+			group) r=Group ;;
+			unknown) r='External User' ;;
+			esac
+		fi
+		[[ ${FAKE_DNF_REASON:-} != "$p="* ]] || r=${FAKE_DNF_REASON#*=}
+		printf '%s\n' "$r"
+		((major == 5)) || echo
+		;;
 	*' --upgrades '*) case $p in su-dummy-[abc]) printf 'skeptical-updater dummy %s (v2.0)\n' "$p"; ((major == 5)) || echo ;; esac ;;
 	*) case $p in su-dummy-new) printf 'skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-new (v1.0)\n' ;; esac ;;
 	esac

tests/unit/fakes/pacman/pacman

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 # FAKE_PACMAN_STDERR=TEXT: -Sl and -Qu also print TEXT on stderr (an unreadable database).
 # -Rs --print: FAKE_PACMAN_RS_REFUSE=1 makes pacman refuse ("breaks dependency");
 # FAKE_PACMAN_RS_EXTRA="pkg:other" adds other to the plan of pkg.
+# FAKE_PACMAN_REASON="pkg=text" replaces the "Install Reason" of pkg in -Qi (empty text: no such line).
 # FAKE_PACMAN_QU=fixture|real|none selects the -Qu sample,
 # FAKE_PACMAN_SL=empty makes -Sl print nothing, FAKE_PACMAN_SUP_EXTRA="a b" adds packages that
 # only -Sup (the real transaction) shows. Every -Q*/-S[il] call records its COLUMNS value, every
@@ -107,7 +108,19 @@ case $op in
 	[[ -z ${FAKE_PACMAN_STDERR:-} ]] || echo "$FAKE_PACMAN_STDERR" >&2
 	[[ ${FAKE_PACMAN_SL:-} == empty ]] || cat "$D/Sl.txt"
 	;;
--Qi) blocks "$D/Qi.txt" "${targets[@]}" ;;
+-Qi)
+	if [[ -z ${FAKE_PACMAN_REASON:-} ]]; then
+		blocks "$D/Qi.txt" "${targets[@]}"
+		exit
+	fi
+	rc=0
+	out=$(blocks "$D/Qi.txt" "${targets[@]}") || rc=$?
+	awk -v n="${FAKE_PACMAN_REASON%%=*}" -v r="${FAKE_PACMAN_REASON#*=}" '
+		/^Name +: / { cur = $0; sub(/^Name +: /, "", cur) }
+		/^Install Reason +: / && cur == n { if (r != "") print "Install Reason  : " r; next }
+		{ print }' <<<"$out"
+	exit "$rc"
+	;;
 -Si)
 	t=()
 	for a in "${targets[@]}"; do t+=("${a#*/}"); done

tests/unit/fakes/zypper/zypper

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 # FAKE_ZYPPER_DUP=fixture|empty|removes the `dist-upgrade --dry-run` plan (data/zypper/dup-*.xml).
 # addlock writes real zypp lock entries into the locksfile.path of $ZYPP_CONF (default
 # /etc/zypp/locks is never touched: the fake refuses); update/dist-upgrade log that file.
+# info replays data/zypper/info-NAME.txt (exit 104 without one); FAKE_ZYPPER_INFO_RC=7 makes it fail
+# like a zypp lock held by another process.
 # shellcheck source=../fakelib.bash
 . "${BASH_SOURCE[0]%/*}/../fakelib.bash"
 fake_log "${ZYPP_CONF:+ZYPP_CONF=$ZYPP_CONF }$*"
@@ -43,6 +45,11 @@ refresh)
 list-updates) cat "$D/lu-${FAKE_ZYPPER_LU:-fixture}.xml" ;;
 info)
 	p=${args[-1]}
+	if [[ -n ${FAKE_ZYPPER_INFO_RC:-} ]]; then
+		echo "System management is locked by the application with pid 4242 (zypper)."
+		echo "Close this application before trying again."
+		exit "$FAKE_ZYPPER_INFO_RC"
+	fi
 	if [[ -f $D/info-$p.txt ]]; then cat "$D/info-$p.txt"; else
 		echo "package '$p' not found."
 		exit 104

tests/unit/interactive.bats

@@ -64,11 +64,30 @@ UPGRADE='apt-get -y -o Dpkg::Options::=--force-confdef -o Dpkg::Options::=--forc
 	assert_line 'excluded from this run: su-dummy-b'
 }
 
-@test "N? prints the description and the installed packages that depend on it" {
-	run skup --no-refresh <<<$'2?\nq'
+@test "N? prints the description, the install reason and the installed packages that depend on it" {
+	run skup --no-refresh <<<$'1?\n2?\nq'
 	assert_success
-	assert_line 'su-dummy-b: dummy package su-dummy-b for skeptical-updater tests'
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-a'
+	assert_output --partial "$(printf '%s\n' '> 1?' \
+		'su-dummy-a: dummy package su-dummy-a for skeptical-updater tests' \
+		'reason: explicitly installed' \
+		'required by: nothing' \
+		'> 2?' \
+		'su-dummy-b: dummy package su-dummy-b for skeptical-updater tests' \
+		'reason: installed as a dependency' \
+		'required by: su-dummy-a')"
+	refute_output --partial 'required by (installed)'
+}
+
+@test "N? on a new dependency (old version -) says 'not installed' without asking the package manager" {
+	FAKE_APT_SIM=real run skup --no-refresh <<<$'9?\nq'
+	assert_success
+	assert_line --regexp '^  \[9\] su-dummy-newdep +- +-> +1\.0 +su-fixture:su-repo$'
+	assert_output --partial "$(printf '%s\n' '> 9?' \
+		'su-dummy-newdep: (no description available: unknown package?)' \
+		'reason: not installed' \
+		'required by: nothing')"
+	log_lacks '^apt-mark show'
+	log_lacks '^dpkg-query -W -f \$\{db:Status-Abbrev\} '
 }
 
 @test "N?? prints the native full info" {

tests/unit/parsers.bats

@@ -50,13 +50,43 @@ setup() { common_setup; }
 @test "apt: description = candidate Description; reverse deps deduplicated, '|' stripped" {
 	run skup info su-dummy-b
 	assert_success
-	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-b: dummy package su-dummy-b for skeptical-updater tests' '  required by (installed): su-dummy-a')"
+	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-b: dummy package su-dummy-b for skeptical-updater tests' 'reason: installed as a dependency' 'required by: su-dummy-a')"
 	log_has 'apt-cache show --no-all-versions su-dummy-b'
 	log_has 'apt-cache rdepends --installed --no-recommends --no-suggests --no-conflicts --no-breaks --no-replaces --no-enhances su-dummy-b'
 	run skup info gpgv
 	assert_success
 	assert_line 'gpgv: GNU privacy guard - signature verification tool'
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): apt'
+	assert_line 'required by: apt'
+}
+
+@test "apt: install reason from apt-mark showauto / showmanual, dpkg for a package in neither list" {
+	run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-a: dummy package su-dummy-a for skeptical-updater tests' 'reason: explicitly installed' 'required by: nothing')"
+	log_has 'apt-mark showauto su-dummy-a'
+	log_has 'apt-mark showmanual su-dummy-a'
+	log_lacks '^dpkg-query -W -f \$\{db:Status-Abbrev\} '
+	run skup info su-dummy-b
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	# apt-mark prints a native package without the ":arch" it was asked for
+	run skup info libc6:amd64
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	# installed but in neither list: manual
+	FAKE_APT_MARK_NEITHER=su-dummy-c run skup info su-dummy-c
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: explicitly installed'
+	# shellcheck disable=SC2016 # dpkg-query's own ${...} format, literally
+	log_has 'dpkg-query -W -f ${db:Status-Abbrev} su-dummy-c'
+	# removed with its configuration files kept (rc), or unknown to dpkg: not installed
+	run skup info su-dummy-f
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+	run skup info gpgv
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+	# apt-mark cannot tell
+	FAKE_APT_MARK_SHOW_RC=100 run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: unknown'
 }
 
 @test "apt: the description also comes from Description-<lang> fields (Translation files)" {
@@ -141,7 +171,7 @@ setup() { common_setup; }
 	run skup info su-dummy-a
 	assert_success
 	assert_line 'su-dummy-a: Skeptical-updater dummy package A'
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): nothing'
+	assert_line 'required by: nothing'
 	run skup info su-dummy-new
 	assert_success
 	assert_line 'su-dummy-new: Skeptical-updater dummy package NEW'
@@ -152,9 +182,32 @@ setup() { common_setup; }
 	run skup info glibc
 	assert_success
 	assert_line 'glibc: GNU C Library'
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): bash, gcc-libs, ncurses, readline'
+	assert_line 'required by: bash, gcc-libs, ncurses, readline'
 	run skup info su-dummy-b
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-a'
+	assert_line 'required by: su-dummy-a'
+}
+
+@test "pacman: install reason from the 'Install Reason' of -Qi; -Qi failing = not installed" {
+	use_fakes pacman
+	run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-a: Skeptical-updater dummy package A' 'reason: explicitly installed' 'required by: nothing')"
+	run skup info su-dummy-b
+	assert_success
+	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-b: Skeptical-updater dummy package B (dependency of A)' 'reason: installed as a dependency' 'required by: su-dummy-a')"
+	run skup info glibc
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	# in a sync database only
+	run skup info su-dummy-new
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+	# a value this tool does not know, or no such field
+	FAKE_PACMAN_REASON='su-dummy-c=Installed for a reason pacman 9 invented' run skup info su-dummy-c
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: unknown'
+	FAKE_PACMAN_REASON='su-dummy-c=' run skup info su-dummy-c
+	assert_line 'reason: unknown'
+	log_has 'pacman -Qi -- su-dummy-c'
 }
 
 @test "pacman: the closure resolves provides (sonames, sh) and version constraints" {
@@ -249,7 +302,7 @@ setup() { common_setup; }
 	run skup info su-dummy-d
 	assert_success
 	assert_line 'su-dummy-d: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-d (v1.0)'
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): nothing'
+	assert_line 'required by: nothing'
 	FAKE_DNF_MAJOR=5 run skup info su-dummy-a
 	assert_line 'su-dummy-a: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-a (v2.0)'
 }
@@ -257,11 +310,55 @@ setup() { common_setup; }
 @test "rpm reverse deps: provides + owned files joined with every requirement (rich deps too)" {
 	use_fakes dnf rpm
 	run skup info su-dummy-b
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-a, su-dummy-d'
+	assert_line 'required by: su-dummy-a, su-dummy-d'
 	run skup info su-dummy-c
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-d'
+	assert_line 'required by: su-dummy-d'
 	run skup info bash
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): filesystem, glibc-common, redhat-rpm-config, rpm, su-dummy-d'
+	assert_line 'required by: filesystem, glibc-common, redhat-rpm-config, rpm, su-dummy-d'
+}
+
+@test "dnf4: install reason from repoquery --installed %{reason}; plain rpm -i = unknown" {
+	use_fakes dnf rpm
+	run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-a: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-a (v2.0)' 'reason: explicitly installed' 'required by: su-dummy-d')"
+	log_has 'dnf -q repoquery --installed --queryformat %{reason}'
+	run skup info su-dummy-b
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	run skup info su-dummy-c
+	assert_line 'reason: unknown'
+	# weak-dependency counts as a dependency, a group member as asked for
+	run skup info glibc-gconv-extra
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	run skup info basesystem
+	assert_line 'reason: explicitly installed'
+	# only in a repository: repoquery --installed prints nothing
+	run skup info su-dummy-new
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'su-dummy-new: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-new (v1.0)'
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+	# repoquery failing: unknown
+	FAKE_DNF_REPOQUERY_RC=1 run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: unknown'
+}
+
+@test "dnf5: install reason in dnf5's words (External User = plain rpm -i, counted as user-installed)" {
+	use_fakes dnf rpm
+	export FAKE_DNF_MAJOR=5
+	run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: explicitly installed'
+	run skup info su-dummy-b
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	run skup info su-dummy-c
+	assert_line 'reason: explicitly installed'
+	run skup info glibc-gconv-extra
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	FAKE_DNF_REASON='su-dummy-c=None' run skup info su-dummy-c
+	assert_line 'reason: unknown'
+	run skup info su-dummy-new
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
 }
 
 @test "rpm closure: file deps, rich deps without their condition, rpmlib() dropped" {
@@ -393,9 +490,58 @@ setup() { common_setup; }
 @test "zypper: reverse deps and closure use the same pure-rpm code" {
 	use_fakes zypper rpm
 	run skup info su-dummy-c
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-d'
+	assert_line 'required by: su-dummy-d'
 	run skup trust su-dummy-a
 	assert_output 'trusted su-dummy-a (+1 dependency: su-dummy-b)'
 	run cut -f1 "$STATE_FILE"
 	assert_line zypper
 }
+
+@test "zypper: install reason from the Installed line of zypper info (not 'Installed Size')" {
+	use_fakes zypper rpm
+	run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-a: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-a (v2.0)' 'reason: explicitly installed' 'required by: su-dummy-d')"
+	log_has 'zypper --non-interactive --no-refresh --quiet info su-dummy-a'
+	run skup info su-dummy-b
+	assert_success
+	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-b: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-b (v2.0)' 'reason: installed as a dependency' 'required by: su-dummy-a, su-dummy-d')"
+	# only in a repository
+	run skup info su-dummy-orphan-parent
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'su-dummy-orphan-parent: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-orphan-parent (v1.0)'
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+	# unknown to zypper (exit 104) and to rpm
+	run skup info nothing-like-this
+	assert_failure 1
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+}
+
+@test "zypper: without an answer from zypper (lock held: exit 7) rpm + libzypp's AutoInstalled decide" {
+	use_fakes zypper rpm
+	export SKEPTICAL_UPDATER_ZYPP_ROOT=$BATS_TEST_TMPDIR/zroot FAKE_ZYPPER_INFO_RC=7
+	# no readable AutoInstalled: the tool cannot tell
+	run skup info su-dummy-b
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'su-dummy-b: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-b (v1.0)'
+	assert_line 'reason: unknown'
+	mkdir -p "$SKEPTICAL_UPDATER_ZYPP_ROOT/var/lib/zypp"
+	printf '# AutoInstalled generated Sat Oct 10 11:14:20 2026\n#\nsu-dummy-b\npattern:minimal_base\n#\n' >"$SKEPTICAL_UPDATER_ZYPP_ROOT/var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled"
+	run skup info su-dummy-b
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_line 'reason: explicitly installed'
+	run skup info su-dummy-orphan-parent
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+}
+
+@test "zypper on Tumbleweed: N? on a new dependency (old -) says 'not installed' without asking" {
+	use_fakes zypper rpm
+	export SKEPTICAL_UPDATER_OS_RELEASE=$FAKE_DATA/os-release-tumbleweed
+	FAKE_ZYPPER_DUP=removes run skup --no-refresh <<<$'2?\nq'
+	assert_success
+	assert_line ' [2] su-dummy-newdep  -      ->  1.0-1  su-dummy'
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+	assert_line 'required by: nothing'
+	log_lacks 'zypper --non-interactive --no-refresh --quiet info su-dummy-newdep'
+}

tests/unit/root.bats

@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ setup() {
 	assert_line "apt${T}su-dummy-a${T}user${T}2026-10-09T09:40:12Z"
 	run skup info su-dummy-b
 	assert_success
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-a'
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	assert_line 'required by: su-dummy-a'
 	run skup show su-dummy-a
 	assert_success
 	assert_line 'Package: su-dummy-a'