it() dist-upgrade
it() install package1 [package2] [...]
it() remove package1 [package2] [...]
+ it() source package1 [package2] [...]
it() check
it() clean
+ it() autoclean
)
Unless the -h, or --help option is given one of the above commands
For example, when using a Debian archive, this command retrieves and
scans the bf(Packages.gz) files, so that information about new and updated
packages is available. An bf(update) should always be performed before an
-bf(upgrade) bf(dist-upgrade).
+bf(upgrade) bf(dist-upgrade). Please be aware that the overall progress
+meter will be incorrect as the size of the package files cannot be known in
+advance.
dit(bf(upgrade))
bf(upgrade) is used to install the newest versions of all packages currently
follows the changes made by bf(dselect) to the em(Status)
field of available packages, and performs the actions necessary to realize
that state (for instance, the removal of old and the installation of new
+packages).
dit(bf(dist-upgrade))
bf(dist-upgrade),in addition to performing the function of bf(upgrade),
dit(bf(install))
bf(install) is followed by one or more em(packages) desired for installation.
Each em(package) is a package name, not a fully qualified filename
-(for instance, in a Debian GNU/Linux system, em(lsdo) would be the argument
+(for instance, in a Debian GNU/Linux system, em(ldso) would be the argument
provided, not em(ldso_1.9.6-2.deb)). All packages required by the package(s)
specified for installation will also be retrieved and installed. The
bf(/etc/apt/sources.list) file is used to locate the desired packages. If a
identified package will be removed if it is installed. This latter feature
may be used to override decisions made by apt-get's conflict resolution system.
+If no package matches the given expression and the expression contains one
+of '.', '?' or '*' then it is assumed to be a POSIX regex and it is applied
+to all package names in the database. Any matches are then installed (or
+removed). Note that matching is done by substring so 'lo*' matches 'how-lo'
+and 'lowest'. If this is undesired prefix with a '^' character.
+
dit(bf(remove))
bf(remove) is identical to bf(install) except that packages are removed
instead of installed. If a plus sign is appended to the package name (with no
intervening space), the identified package will be installed.
+dit(bf(source))
+bf(source) causes apt-get to fetch source packages. APT will examine the
+available packages to decide which source package to fetch. It will then
+find and download into the current directory the newest available version of
+that source package. Source packages are tracked separately from binary
+packages via bf(deb-src) type lines in the bf(/etc/apt/sources.list) file.
+This probably will mean that you will not get the same source as the package
+you have installed or as you could install. If the --compile options is
+specified then the package will be compiled to a binary .deb using
+dpkg-buildpackage, if --download-only is specified then the source package
+will not be unpacked.
+
+Note that source packages are not tracked like binary packages, they exist
+only in the current directory and are similar to downloading source
+tar balls.
+
dit(bf(check))
bf(check) is a diagnostic tool; it updates the package cache and checks for
-brokenpackages.
+broken packages.
dit(bf(clean))
-df(clean) clears out the local repository of retrieved package files. It
+bf(clean) clears out the local repository of retrieved package files. It
removes everything but the lock file from bf(/var/cache/apt/archives/)
and bf(/var/cache/apt/archives/partial/).
When APT is used as a bf(dselect(8)) method, bf(clean) is run automatically.
Those who do not use dselect will likely want to run code(apt-get clean)
from time to time to free up disk space.
+
+dit(bf(autoclean))
+Like bf(clean), bf(autoclean) clears out the local repository of retrieved
+package files. The difference is that it only removes package files that
+can no longer be downloaded, and are largely useless. This allows a
+cache to be maintained over a long period without it growing out of
+control.
+
enddit()
manpageoptions()
startdit()
dit(bf(-d, --download-only))
Download only; package files are only retrieved, not unpacked or installed.
-See bf(APT::Get::Download-Only).
+Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::Download-Only).
dit(bf(-f, --fix-broken))
Fix; attempt to correct a system with broken dependencies in
-place. This option may be used alone or in conjunction with any of the
-command actions, and is sometimes necessary when running APT for the
-first time; APT itself does not allow broken package dependencies to
-exist on a system. It is possible that a system's dependency structure
-can be so corrupt as to require manual intervention (which usually
-means using dselect or dpkg --remove to eliminate some of the offending
-packages). Use of this option together with -m may produce an error in
-some situations. See bf(APT::Get::Fix-Broken).
+place. This option, when used with install/remove, can omit any packages
+to permit APT to deduce a likely soltion. Any Package that are specified
+must completly correct the problem. The option is sometimes necessary when
+running APT for the first time; APT itself does not allow broken package
+dependencies to exist on a system. It is possible that a system's
+dependency structure can be so corrupt as to require manual intervention
+(which usually means using dselect or dpkg --remove to eliminate some of
+the offending packages). Use of this option together with -m may produce an
+error in some situations. Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::Fix-Broken).
dit(bf(-h, --help))
Help; display a helpful usage message and exits.
dit(bf(-v, --version))
-Show the program verison.
+Show the program version.
-dit(bf(-m, --ignore-missing))
+dit(bf(-m, --ignore-missing, --fix-missing))
Ignore missing packages; If packages cannot be retrieved or fail the
integrity check after retrieval (corrupted package files), hold back
those packages and handle the result. Use of this option together with
--f may produce an error in some situations. See bf(ignore-missing).
+-f may produce an error in some situations. If a package is selected for
+installation (particularly if it is mentioned on the command line) and it
+could not be downloaded then it will be silently held back.
+Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::ignore-missing).
+
+dit(bf(--no-download))
+Disables downloading of packages. This is best used with --ignore-missing to
+force APT to use only the .debs it has already downloaded.
+Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::No-Download).
dit(bf(-q, --quiet))
Quiet; produces output suitable for logging, omitting progress indicators.
-More qs will produce more quite up to a maximum of 2. You can also use
-bf(-q=#) to set the quiet level, overriding the configuration file.
-See bf(quiet)
+More q's will produce more quiet up to a maximum of 2. You can also use
+bf(-q=#) to set the quiet level, overriding the configuration file. Note that
+quiet level 2 implies -y, you should never use -qq without a no-action
+modifier such as -d, --print-uris or -s as APT may decided to do something
+you did not expect.
+Configuration Item: bf(quiet)
dit(bf(-s, --simulate, --just-print, --dry-run, --recon, --no-act))
No action; perform a simulation of events that would occur but do not
-actually change the system. See bf(APT::Get::Simulate). Simulate prints out
+actually change the system. Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::Simulate).
+
+Simulate prints out
a series of lines each one representing a dpkg operation, Configure (Conf),
Remove (Remv), Unpack (Inst). Square brackets indicate broken packages with
and empty set of square brackets meaning breaks that are of no consequence
dit(bf(-y, --yes, --assume-yes))
Automatic yes to prompts; assume "yes" as answer to all prompts and run
-non-interactively. If an undesireable situation, such as changing a held
-package or removing an essential package occures then bf(apt-get) will
-abort. See bf(APT::Get::Assume-Yes).
+non-interactively. If an undesirable situation, such as changing a held
+package or removing an essential package occurs then bf(apt-get) will
+abort. Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::Assume-Yes).
dit(bf(-u, --show-upgraded))
Show upgraded packages; Print out a list of all packages that are to be
-upgraded. See bf(APT::Get::Show-Upgraded).
+upgraded. Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::Show-Upgraded).
+
+dit(bf(-b, --compile, --build))
+Compile source packages after downloading them.
+Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::Compile).
dit(bf(--ignore-hold))
Ignore package Holds; This causes bf(apt-get) to ignore a hold placed on
-a package. This may be usefull in conjunction with bf(dist-upgrade) to
-override a large number of undesired holds. See bf(APT::Ingore-Hold).
+a package. This may be useful in conjunction with bf(dist-upgrade) to
+override a large number of undesired holds. Configuration Item: bf(APT::Ignore-Hold).
dit(bf(--no-upgrade))
Do not upgrade packages; When used in conjunction with bf(install)
bf(no-upgrade) will prevent packages listed from being upgraded if they
-are already installed. See bf(APT::Get::no-upgrade).
+are already installed. Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::no-upgrade).
dit(bf(--force-yes))
Force yes; This is a dangerous option that will cause apt to continue without
-prompting if it is doing something potentially harmfull. It should not be used
+prompting if it is doing something potentially harmful. It should not be used
except in very special situations. Using bf(force-yes) can potentially destroy
-your system! See bf(APT::Get::force-yes).
+your system! Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::force-yes).
dit(bf(--print-uris))
Instead of fetching the files to install their URIs are printed. Each
URI will have the path, the destination file name, the size and the expected
md5 hash. Note that the file name to write to will not always match
-the file name on the remote site! See bf(APT::Get::Print-URIs).
+the file name on the remote site! This also works with the bf(source)
+command. Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::Print-URIs).
+
+dit(bf(--purge))
+Use purge instead of remove for anything that would be removed.
+Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::Purge).
+
+dit(bf(--reinstall))
+Re-Install packages that are already installed and at the newest version.
+
+dit(bf(--list-cleanup))
+This option defaults to on, use bf(--no-list-cleanup) to turn it off.
+When on apt-get will automatically manage the contents of
+/var/state/apt/lists to ensure that obsolete files are erased. The only
+reason to turn it off is if you frequently change your source list.
+Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::List-Cleanup)
+
+dit(bf(--trivial-only))
+Only perform operations are 'trivial'. Logically this can be considered
+related to --assume-yes, where --assume-yes will answer yes to any prompt,
+--trivial-only will answer no. Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::Trivial-Only)
+
+dit(bf(--no-remove))
+If any packages are to be removed apt-get immediately aborts without
+prompting. Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::No-Remove)
+
+dit(bf(--diff-only), bf(--tar-only))
+Download only the diff or tar file of a source archive.
+Configuration Item: bf(APT::Get::Diff-Only)
dit(bf(-c, --config-file))
Configuration File; Specify a configuration file to use. bf(apt-get) will
bf(apt.conf(5)) for syntax information.
dit(bf(-o, --option))
-Set a Configuration Option; This will set an arbitary configuration option.
+Set a Configuration Option; This will set an arbitrary configuration option.
The syntax is
verb(-o Foo::Bar=bar)
enddit()
it() /var/state/apt/lists/
storage area for state information for each package resource specified in
+ the source list
it() /var/state/apt/lists/partial/
storage area for state information in transit
projects / apt.git / blobdiff