Debian Package Management
This is a stub. Please feel free to give this article love and attention if you know more about this topic than we have here.
overview
this class should outline the basics of debian package management- searching, installing, updating and removing software.
background
prerequisites
- basic familiarity with commandline and Command Line 2
- basic familiarity with linux
suggested background
terms
tips for working environment
- keep a web browser pointed to this page
- open several terminal windows
- don't forget to use the "man" command, or -h and --help
- commandline reminders
- remember to use tab completion.
- hit tab twice, fast.
- hit tab again!
- remember to use the up arrow to re-do a previous command
- keep hitting tab!
topics covered
apt
where to get software from: /etc/apt/sources.list
update the list of available packages(do this after changing sources.list):
apt-get update
upgrade packages:
apt-get upgrade
do a more thorough upgrade:
apt-get dist-upgrade
install a package:
apt-get install firefox
remove a package:
apt-get remove firefox
clear out downloaded package files:
apt-get clean
only clear out package files no longer available:
apt-get autoclean
search for software:
apt-cache search firefox
show available versions of a package:
apt-cache policy firefox
pinning: /etc/apt/preferences
aptitude
similar to apt, but more sophisticated. has a text-only menu system.
dpkg
underneath it all, lies dpkg
list status of installed packages:
dpkg -l
another way to list the status of packages:
dpkg --get-selections
list the files in a package:
dpkg -L firefox
find out which package owns a certain file:
dpkg -S /bin/bash
install a package without using apt or aptitude(this does no dependency resolution- so avoid if at all possible):
dpkg -i hackme-script-foo_0.0.1_i386.deb
synaptic
it's graphical. point and click your way to carpal tunnel.