Package Management

Learn how to effectively manage software packages in Debian 13 using APT and other package management tools.

📦 APT Package Manager

APT (Advanced Package Tool) is the primary package management system for Debian.

Basic APT Commands

bash

# Update package database
sudo apt update

# Upgrade all packages
sudo apt upgrade

# Full system upgrade
sudo apt full-upgrade

# Install a package
sudo apt install package-name

# Remove a package
sudo apt remove package-name

# Remove package and configuration
sudo apt purge package-name

# Search for packages
apt search keyword

# Show package information
apt show package-name

# List installed packages
apt list --installed

Package Information

bash

# Show package details
apt show firefox

# Check if package is installed
dpkg -l | grep firefox

# Find package containing file
dpkg -S /usr/bin/firefox

# List package contents
dpkg -L package-name

🔍 Finding Software

Searching Packages

bash

# Search by name
apt search web-browser

# Search by description
apt search "text editor"

# Advanced search with aptitude
sudo apt install aptitude
aptitude search '~dweb~nbrowser'

Package Categories

bash

# List available tasks
sudo apt install tasksel
sudo tasksel

# Common tasks:
# - Desktop environment
# - Web server
# - Mail server
# - Development

🛠️ Software Installation

Installing from Repositories

bash

# Install single package
sudo apt install firefox

# Install multiple packages
sudo apt install git vim curl

# Install specific version
sudo apt install firefox=version

# Install with dependencies
sudo apt install --install-suggests package-name

Installing .deb Files

bash

# Install downloaded .deb file
sudo dpkg -i package.deb

# Fix broken dependencies
sudo apt install -f

# Alternative method
sudo apt install ./package.deb

Installing from Source

bash

# Install build tools
sudo apt install build-essential

# Download source
apt source package-name

# Build dependencies
sudo apt build-dep package-name

# Compile and install
./configure
make
sudo make install

🔧 Repository Management

Sources List

bash

# Edit sources list
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

# Example entries:
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie main contrib non-free non-free-firmware

Adding Third-Party Repositories

bash

# Add repository key
wget -qO- https://example.com/key.gpg | sudo apt-key add -

# Add repository
echo "deb https://example.com/repo stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/example.list

# Update package list
sudo apt update

Repository Components

Component	Description	License
main	Free software officially supported	DFSG-compliant
contrib	Free software depending on non-free	DFSG-compliant
non-free	Proprietary software	Non-free
non-free-firmware	Hardware firmware	Non-free

📊 Package Status and Maintenance

System Maintenance

bash

# Clean package cache
sudo apt clean

# Remove unnecessary packages
sudo apt autoremove

# Remove orphaned packages
sudo apt autoremove --purge

# Fix broken packages
sudo apt install -f

# Reconfigure packages
sudo dpkg-reconfigure package-name

Package Holds

bash

# Hold package (prevent updates)
sudo apt-mark hold package-name

# Unhold package
sudo apt-mark unhold package-name

# Show held packages
apt-mark showhold

Package Pinning

bash

# Create preferences file
sudo nano /etc/apt/preferences.d/pin-package

# Example pinning configuration:
Package: firefox
Pin: version 91.*
Pin-Priority: 1001

🌐 Alternative Package Managers

Flatpak

bash

# Install Flatpak
sudo apt install flatpak

# Add Flathub repository
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

# Install application
flatpak install flathub org.mozilla.firefox

# Run application
flatpak run org.mozilla.firefox

# Update Flatpaks
flatpak update

Snap

bash

# Install Snap
sudo apt install snapd

# Install snap package
sudo snap install package-name

# List installed snaps
snap list

# Update snaps
sudo snap refresh

AppImage

bash

# Download AppImage
wget https://example.com/application.AppImage

# Make executable
chmod +x application.AppImage

# Run application
./application.AppImage

# Optional: Install AppImageLauncher
sudo apt install appimagelauncher

🔐 Package Security

Package Verification

bash

# Verify package integrity
apt-cache policy package-name

# Check package signatures
apt-key list

# Verify installed packages
debsums -c

Security Updates

bash

# Install security updates only
sudo apt install unattended-upgrades

# Configure automatic updates
sudo dpkg-reconfigure unattended-upgrades

# Manual security update
sudo apt upgrade -s | grep -i security

🛡️ Backups and Recovery

Package Selection Backup

bash

# Save package list
dpkg --get-selections > packages.txt

# Restore packages
sudo dpkg --set-selections < packages.txt
sudo apt-get dselect-upgrade

APT Configuration Backup

bash

# Backup APT configuration
sudo tar -czf apt-backup.tar.gz /etc/apt/

# Restore configuration
sudo tar -xzf apt-backup.tar.gz -C /

📈 Advanced Package Management

Package Building

bash

# Install build tools
sudo apt install devscripts build-essential

# Create package directory
mkdir my-package
cd my-package

# Initialize package
dh_make --createorig

# Build package
debuild -us -uc

Virtual Packages

bash

# List virtual packages
apt-cache showpkg virtual-package

# Find providers
apt-cache show mail-transport-agent

# Install virtual package
sudo apt install text-editor

Package Dependencies

bash

# Show dependencies
apt depends package-name

# Show reverse dependencies
apt rdepends package-name

# Check for conflicts
apt install --dry-run package-name

🔍 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

bash

# Fix broken packages
sudo apt --fix-broken install

# Clear package cache
sudo apt clean && sudo apt autoclean

# Reset package database
sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/*
sudo apt update

# Force package reinstallation
sudo apt install --reinstall package-name

Package Conflicts

bash

# Identify conflicting packages
apt list --upgradable

# Resolve conflicts
sudo apt full-upgrade

# Force package removal
sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq package-name

📚 Package Management Tools

Graphical Tools

bash

# GNOME Software Center
sudo apt install gnome-software

# Synaptic Package Manager
sudo apt install synaptic

# KDE Discover
sudo apt install plasma-discover

Command Line Tools

bash

# Aptitude (alternative to apt)
sudo apt install aptitude

# Package information tools
sudo apt install apt-file

# Update apt-file database
sudo apt-file update

# Find files in packages
apt-file search filename

📊 Performance Optimization

Faster Downloads

bash

# Use apt-fast for parallel downloads
sudo apt install apt-fast

# Configure mirror selection
sudo apt install netselect-apt
sudo netselect-apt

Local Package Cache

bash

# Set up apt-cacher-ng
sudo apt install apt-cacher-ng

# Configure clients to use cache
echo 'Acquire::http::Proxy "http://cache-server:3142";' | sudo tee /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/01proxy

System Configuration - Configure your system
Software Installation - Application guides
Security Settings - System security
Troubleshooting - Common problems

Package management mastered? Explore user management →

Package Management ​

📦 APT Package Manager ​

Basic APT Commands ​

Package Information ​

🔍 Finding Software ​

Searching Packages ​

Package Categories ​

🛠️ Software Installation ​

Installing from Repositories ​

Installing .deb Files ​

Installing from Source ​

🔧 Repository Management ​

Sources List ​

Adding Third-Party Repositories ​

Repository Components ​

📊 Package Status and Maintenance ​

System Maintenance ​

Package Holds ​

Package Pinning ​

🌐 Alternative Package Managers ​

Flatpak ​

Snap ​

AppImage ​

🔐 Package Security ​

Package Verification ​

Security Updates ​

🛡️ Backups and Recovery ​

Package Selection Backup ​

APT Configuration Backup ​

📈 Advanced Package Management ​

Package Building ​

Virtual Packages ​

Package Dependencies ​

🔍 Troubleshooting ​

Common Issues ​

Package Conflicts ​

📚 Package Management Tools ​

Graphical Tools ​

Command Line Tools ​

📊 Performance Optimization ​

Faster Downloads ​

Local Package Cache ​

📚 Related Resources ​

Package Management

📦 APT Package Manager

Basic APT Commands

Package Information

🔍 Finding Software

Searching Packages

Package Categories

🛠️ Software Installation

Installing from Repositories

Installing .deb Files

Installing from Source

🔧 Repository Management

Sources List

Adding Third-Party Repositories

Repository Components

📊 Package Status and Maintenance

System Maintenance

Package Holds

Package Pinning

🌐 Alternative Package Managers

Flatpak

Snap

AppImage

🔐 Package Security

Package Verification

Security Updates

🛡️ Backups and Recovery

Package Selection Backup

APT Configuration Backup

📈 Advanced Package Management

Package Building

Virtual Packages

Package Dependencies

🔍 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Package Conflicts

📚 Package Management Tools

Graphical Tools

Command Line Tools

📊 Performance Optimization

Faster Downloads

Local Package Cache

📚 Related Resources