Debian: How to use APT! [solved]

[jlc]

I won't disturb you for long :lol:. I just wanted to drop a word or two to say that I've found my way with apt :). The key tools are apt-get (of course), aptitude, and apt-file IMHO.

And I'll mark the thread as [sOLVED], which does not close it in any way. 'later!

 

Yves.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Whoops, did we go off track :)

 

 

Most useful debian-specific commands:

dpkg --list

shows installed packages

 

dpkg -S /bin/foo

shows which installed package /bin/foo belongs to

 

dpkg-reconfigure

to rerun package configuration.

 

apt-cache show

show the package description

 

apt-cache search foo

show me packages about 'foo'

 

apt-get install foo

download and install package foo

 

apt-get -s upgrade

simulate an upgrade

 

apt-file

search packages from the apt databases.

 

apt-spy

for finding fast apt repositories in your area.

 

apt-src

download, build and install source packages.

 

apt-get --purge remove

will remove a package (purge option removes the config files)

 

apt-get update

get the list of packages for your version and branch

 

apt-get upgrade

update the packages on the system themselves according to list without installing newer versions

 

apt-get dselect-upgrade

update the packages, but install newer versions

(probably most useful with Testing/Unstable branches, not with Stable since the versions are constant)

 

aptitude

 

apt-get install sysv-rc-conf (or sysvconfig)

sysv-rc-conf

# configure your runlevel symlinks, what you want started at boot

 

apt-get install ntpdate

# vi /etc/default/ntpdate

set some ntp servers, or use pool.ntp.org, or europe.pool.ntp.org if you live in the EU

 

apt-build

can rebuild packages w/ specific cpu flags, fun to play with, if you want to get crazy you can apt-build world "freebsd style"

[theYinYeti]

Very interesting. Thank you for all this!