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apt-get

Return to Linux commands, Installing Linux software on Ubuntu-Debian with apt-get, Installing Linux software, Linux Package managers, Linux topics

Snippet from Wikipedia: APT (software)

Advanced package tool, or APT, is a free-software user interface that works with core libraries to handle the installation and removal of software on Debian and Debian-based Linux distributions. APT simplifies the process of managing software on Unix-like computer systems by automating the retrieval, configuration and installation of software packages, either from precompiled files or by compiling source code.

apt-get is the command to initialize Debian's native package management utility/application “Apt”. This tool has also been ported to a number of other distributions.

You use the apt-get command to install and remove software packages from your system (one at a time or many at once), as well as update your system's internal listing of what packages are available from your currently selected list or repositories.

Tips

to install a package: :

# apt-get install NameOfPackage

to reinstall a package :

# apt-get install --reinstall NameOfPackage

to remove a package: :

# apt-get remove NameOfPackage

to remove a package and configuration file: :

# apt-get --purge remove NameOfPackage

to search for a package: :

# apt-cache search NameOfPackage

to update the repository (list of avalible .deb's): :

# apt-get update

to upgrade your system (can be useful in maintaining an up-to-date system): :

# apt-get upgrade

to upgrade your distribution (tries to choose packages needed to upgrade your dist): :

# apt-get dist-upgrade

to enable smart-tab completion, add the line :

source /etc/bash_completion

to your .bashrc file. When you enter a command like “apt-get install a<tab>,” bash will auto-complete the entry.

to see a short list of common commands: :

# apt-get --help

Extra

Try running :

apt-get moo
         (__)
         (oo)
   /------\/
  / |    ||
 *  /\---/\
    ~~   ~~
...."Have you mooed today?"...

Using with other distributions

You can go to Freshrpms to find apt-get tools for distributions other than Debian. After apt-get is installed, the command line syntax is the same as that listed above for Debian.

Trouble-shooting with RPM-based distributions

Sometimes apt-get will complain about being unable to lock a specific directory. Many of these problems can be remedied with the following commands.

rm /var/lock/rpm/transaction
rm /var/lib/rpm/__db*
rm /var/cache/apt/archives/lock

See also

Debian Installation Command

Fair Use Source: http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Apt-get