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Apt-Get (package management)

apt-get is a command-line tool for package management on Debian-based Linux distributions, including Ubuntu. It is used to install, update, upgrade, and remove software packages. The name apt-get stands for Advanced Package Tool and it is one of the most commonly used package management utilities on these systems.

Here are some common apt-get commands

Update Package Lists​

sudo apt-get update - This command updates the local package database, so it knows about the latest versions of packages available in the repositories.

Upgrade Installed Packages​

sudo apt-get upgrade - This command upgrades the installed packages to their latest available versions. It doesn't install new packages or remove old ones.

Install a Package​

sudo apt-get install package_name - Use this command to install a new package. Replace package_name with the name of the package you want to install.

Remove a Package​

sudo apt-get remove package_name - This command removes a package from your system, but it leaves its configuration files intact.

Remove a Package and Its Configuration Files​

sudo apt-get purge package_name - This command removes a package along with its configuration files.

Search for Packages​

apt-get search keyword - This command searches for packages containing the specified keyword in their name or description.

Show Package Information​

apt-get show package_name - This command displays detailed information about a specific package, including its description, dependencies, and version.

Clean Up​

sudo apt-get autoremove - This command removes packages that were automatically installed as dependencies but are no longer needed by any installed package. It can help free up disk space.

Fix Broken Dependencies​

sudo apt-get -f install - This command attempts to fix broken package dependencies.


Please note that you typically need superuser (root) privileges to run most apt-get commands, so you'll often see sudo used before the commands to elevate your permissions.

Keep in mind that apt-get has been largely replaced by apt on more recent Debian-based systems (Ubuntu included). apt provides similar functionality but with a friendlier interface and some additional features.


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