APT Quick Reference

Basic "apt-get" usage

sudo apt-get install package

Downloads package and all of its dependencies, and installs or upgrades them.

sudo apt-get -u -V upgrade

List packages to be upgraded with their versions.

sudo apt-get remove [--purge] package

Removes package and any packages that depend on it

sudo apt-get purge -y $(dpkg --list |grep '^rc' |awk '{print $2}')

Purge packages removed, but not purged (rc)

Basic "apt-cache" usage

apt-cache search pattern

Searches packages and descriptions for pattern.

apt-cache show package

Shows the full description of package

apt-cache showpkg package

Shows a lot more detail about and its relationships to other packages.

Basic "dpkg" usage

dpkg-deb -e package_file.deb

Extract content of .deb file in current directory.

dpkg --list |grep "^rc" | cut -d " " -f 3 | xargs sudo dpkg --purge

Remove all rc packages.

dpkg -S /etc/bash.bashrc

How to find which package contains/supplies a certain file.

dpkg -l | awk '{ print $2 }' | tail -n+5 |tr '\n' ' '

List all packages installed in one line

dpkg -I package.deb

Get info about a package

Basic "aptitude" usage

aptitude download package_name

Download the dpkg file of package_name

Reference

1. http://www.cyberciti.biz/ref/apt-dpkg-ref.html - APT and Dpkg Quick Reference Sheet