Command-line Package Tools

Command-line package commands for Debian and Ubuntu-type systems that you should know:

apt-get update

resynchronize the package index files

apt-get dist-upgrade

install the newest versions of all packages currently installed and handle changing dependencies

apt-get install PKG

install a package and figure out dependancies

apt-get remove PKG

remove a package

apt-get clean

clear out the local repository of retrieved package files

apt-cache showpkg PKG

displays information about the package

apt-cache search REGEX

search all available package lists for a regex pattern

dpkg-query --list PATTERN

list installed packages matching given pattern

dpkg-query --status PKG

report the status of specified package

dpkg-query --listfiles PKG

list files installed to your system from a package

dpkg-query --search FILENAME

search for a filename from installed packages

sudo dpkg --install DEBPKGFILE

install a .deb package