Yvan

Summary

• Install, upgrade and uninstall Debian binary packages.
• Find packages containing specific files or libraries which may or may not be installed.
• Obtain package information like version, content, dependencies, package integrity and installation status (whether or not the package is installed).
• Cache management
• Graphic interfaces

Install, upgrade and uninstall Debian binary packages

Repository

/etc/apt/sources.list           # Repository

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise universe
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise universe

software-properties-gtk    # GUI for Repository

deb Binary packages.
deb-src Source packages.
precise Distribution name.
folder Component name or folder name.

Install, remove, purge, download a package with apt

apt-get update                  # Updates the list of available packages
/var/lib/apt/lists/             # List of available packages

apt-get upgrade                 # Install the newest versions of all packages currently installed on the system
/var/cache/apt/archives/        # Folder containing downloaded .deb files

apt-get install vim-runtime     # Install package. Content vimtutor
apt-get remove  vim-runtime     # Remove files of the package
apt-get purge   vim-runtime     # Delete files and configuration files

apt-get [-s, --simulate, --just-print, --dry-run, --recon, --no-act]  # Simulate install
apt-get [-s| --simulate] install   vim     # Simutate install

apt-get install [-d| --download-only] vim     # Download vim package without install
apt-get download vim             # download the given binary package into the current directory

apt-get remove --auto-remove vim # Remove vim and non necessary packages dependencies
apt-get autoremove               # Remove non necessary packages dependencies

Install, remove, a package with dpkg

apt-get download vim             # download the given binary package into the current directory

dpkg -i        vim_7.deb          # install 
dpkg --install vim_7.deb          # install 

dpkg -r       vim                 # Remove
dpkg --remove vim                 # Remove

Obtain package information like version, content, dependencies, package integrity and installation status (whether or not the package is installed)

apt-cache

apt-cache depends  vim           # vim depends on which packages (above vim)
apt-cache rdepends vim           # Packages below vim 

apt-cache search "linux loader"
apt-cache search kdebase         # search package kdebase

apt-cache dumpavail              # list of available packages

apt-cache show    vim            # Like dpkg --print-avail vim  
apt-cache showpkg vim            # list package name, dependencies, ver., ...

apt-cache policy                 # Print out the priorities of each source
apt-cache policy vim             # Print out the detailed information about the priority selection

aptitude

Same commands as apt-cache and apt-get : install, remove, purge, search, ... see manpage.

aptitude show vim                # show package info of vim

dpkg

/var/lib/dpkg/available          # Available packages
/var/lib/dpkg/status             # Status of packages (installed, config) 
/var/lib/dpkg/info/              # scripts & config files of installed packages

apt-get download vim             # download the given binary package into the current directory

dpkg -c, --contents packageName.deb     # List contents of a deb package

dpkg -I     packageName.deb             # Show information about a package file
dpkg --info packageName.deb             # Show information about a package file
dpkg -I packageName.deb | grep Depends  # see the dependencies

dpkg -l                          # List all packages
dpkg -l 'vim*'                   # List packages matching pattern 'vim*'

Cache management

/var/cache/apt/archives/        # Folder containing downloaded .deb files

apt-get clean        # Delete .deb files downloaded in folder /var/cache/apt/archives
apt-get autoclean    # Delete .deb files that can no longer be downloaded

Graphic interfaces

update-manager             # update manager
software-properties-gtk    # Software source, repository

synaptic                   # Packages manager
aptitude                   # Packages manager