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