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We currently use a very basic script to put packages on hold, to prevent them from upgrading when there is a bug, when upgrading needs special attention which should not be mixed with regular upgrades, or other specific reasons. Unfortunately, it is so limited we have to take notes elsewhere to track why packages are on hold. Moreover, holding package is not perfectly supported by apt/aptitude, and their resolver is sometimes disturbed by such configuration.

• use pining instead of dpkg status, it is more powerful, and manage at least holding packages (but other criterias can be added later)
• manage /etc/apt/preferences.d/ files with a certain pattern in the name, easier to check than statuses
• support wildcards in package names, it is more accurate when one software can have multiple extensions in several package (ex. "mediawiki*")
• handle groups, to have multiple packages associated in the same pining file (with commands to add/remove a package pattern from the list)
• add a compulsory reason associated with the pining file

High level language required: Ruby (prefered), Python, Modern Perl OO.