Ubuntu Linux rests on an incredibly powerful package management system based on Debian Linux. This package management system known as Apt manages an extensive database of packages which have been in stalled and which are available to be installed through repositories.
This guide goes through Apt and how to easily download and install programs through Apt, and also how to handle tared archives and build applications from source.
Installing packages
sudo aptitude install <packagename>
Examples:
sudo aptitude install mpd sbackup
Removing packages
sudo aptitude remove <packagename>
Examples:
sudo aptitude remove mpd sbackup
Searching for packages
sudo aptitude search <keywords>
Examples:
sudo aptitude search Music MP3
sudo aptitude search “Text Editor”
Updating Apt database (used after adding/removing Apt repositories)
sudo aptitude update
Upgrading packages
sudo aptitude upgrade
Upgrade entire distribution
sudo aptitude dist-upgrade
Install downloaded Ubuntu (Debian) package (.deb)
sudo dpkg -i package.deb
Remove Ubuntu (Debian) package
sudo dpkg -r package
Reconfigure/Repair installed package
sudo dpkg-reconfigure package
Examples:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure mpd
Handling “.tar.gz” (Tar/GZip) Archives
To extract:
tar xvzf package.tar.gz
To create:
tar cvfz package.tar.gz folder
* Handling “.tar.bz” (Tar/BZip) Archives
To extract:
tar xvjf package.tar.bz
To create:
tar cvjf package.tar.bz folder
Extracting “.bz” Archives
bunzip2 file.bz
Extracting “.gz” Archives
gunzip file.gz
Building from Source
Make sure you have all the necessary development tools (i.e. libraries, compilers, headers)
sudo aptitude install build-essential
sudo aptitude install linux-headers-`uname -r`
Extract your package (as detailed above)
tar xvzf package.tar.gz
Commence the build process
cd /path/to/extracted/package
./configure
make
make install
If build is successful, consider making an Ubuntu (Debian) package (.deb) for future use:
Install package tools:
sudo aptitude install checkinstall
Rebuild package using “checkinstall”:
cd /path/to/extracted/package
./configure
make
checkinstall
Keep the resulting “.deb” file for future use. It can be installed using:
sudo dpkg -i package.deb
Note: These are basic instructions that may not always work. Some packages require additional dependencies and optional parameters to be specified in order to build them successfully.
How to manually update Ubuntu
sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude upgrade
sudo aptitude dist-upgrade
OR
Use Update Manager: System -> Administration -> Update Manager
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May 26th, 2007 at 9:32 am
sudo dpkg -r package.deb to uninstall the debian package.