APT package manager

APT (Advanced Packaging Tool) is the default and most powerful package manager for Debian, Ubuntu, and their derivatives (such as Linux Mint and Pop!_OS). It simplifies software management by automatically handling dependencies, searching repositories, installing, updating, and removing packages with ease and reliability.

Basic APT commands

The general syntax is:

apt [option] command [package1 package2 ...]

Updating the package list

Always update the package index before installing or upgrading packages:

sudo apt update

Installing Packages

• Install a single package or multiple packages:

  sudo apt install package_name
  sudo apt install package1 package2
  

• Install a package from a local .deb file:

  sudo apt install ./package.deb
  

Removing packages

• Remove a package (configuration files are kept):

  sudo apt remove package_name
  

• Completely remove a package including its configuration files:

  sudo apt purge package_name
  

Updating installed packages

• Upgrade all installed packages:

  sudo apt upgrade
  

• новление (с обработкой зависимостей и возможным удалением ненужных пакетов):

  sudo apt full-upgrade
  

(previously known as dist-upgrade)

Searching for packages

• Search by name or description:

  apt search keyword
  

• Show detailed information about a package:

  apt show package_name
  

Useful options

• -y — automatically answer "yes" to all prompts:

  sudo apt upgrade -y
  

• --no-install-recommends — do not install recommended packages:

  sudo apt install package_name --no-install-recommends
  

Additional helpful Ccmmands

• Clean the local package cache:

  sudo apt clean
  

• Remove automatically installed unused dependencies:

  sudo apt autoremove
  

• View package operation history:

  apt history
  

Рекомендации

• Always run sudo apt update before installing or upgrading packages.
• Use sudo apt full-upgrade for a more complete and safer system upgrade.
• Run sudo apt autoremove regularly to keep your system clean from unused dependencies.