APT tips and tricks

Search installed packages:

apt-cache search package


Get details about a specific installed package:

apt-cache show package


Install new package (Note that you can install several packages at a time by seperating the package name by a single space):

apt-get install package1 package2


Remove a package

apt-get remove package


When you are removing the package some configuration files a left at the system but you can completely remove the package and config by using the following parameter:

apt-get remove package --purge


You can use the apt tool to update installed packages on the system by running the following commands:

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade


You can also update the system using these commands. apt-get upgrade is used to install the newest versions of all packages currently installed on the system but apt-get dist-upgrade, in addition to performing the function of upgrade, also intelligently handles changing dependencies with new versions of packages.

apt-get update
apt-get dist-upgrade


the upgrade command does the trick but you should run the update command before to receive latest packages and updates.

If installation of a package fails you may resolve the problems by running this command:

apt-get -f install