DPKG and APT

In this guide, we dive into the package management tools available on Debian-based distributions like Ubuntu, PureOS, and Linux Mint. We will examine DPKG, the low-level package manager, alongside APT, its high-level counterpart that efficiently resolves dependencies. Understanding both tools is essential for efficient software management and troubleshooting.

DPKG

DPKG, short for Debian Package Manager, is similar to RPM on Red Hat-based systems. It is used to install, remove, upgrade, list, and verify packages with the .deb extension. However, note that DPKG does not automatically resolve or manage dependencies. This can lead to installation issues if required dependencies are missing.

You can perform common package management tasks with DPKG using the following commands:

[~]$ dpkg -i telnet.deb       # Install or update the package
[~]$ dpkg -r telnet           # Remove the package
[~]$ dpkg -l telnet           # List installed packages with version numbers and descriptions
[~]$ dpkg -s telnet           # Check the status of an installed package

For instance, when installing GIMP locally, you might encounter dependency problems:

[~]$ dpkg -i gimp.deb
(Reading database ... 419857 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack gimp.deb ...
Unpacking gimp (2.10.8-2) over (2.10.8-2) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of gimp:
 gimp depends on libgimp2.0 (>= 2.10.8); however:
 Version of libgimp2.0 on system is 2.8.22-1.
dpkg: error processing package gimp (--install):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.13.3-11ubuntu1.1) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.23+linuxmint6) ...
Processing triggers for mime-support (3.60ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.8.3-2ubuntu0.1) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
 gimp

APT

APT (Advanced Package Tool) is a user-friendly front-end for DPKG that automatically handles dependency resolution. When you install a package using APT, it ensures that all required dependencies are installed alongside the requested package. This feature makes it a preferred choice for many users over directly using DPKG.

For example, to install GIMP while automatically handling dependencies, use the following command:

apt install gimp

Alternatively, you can use:

apt-get install gimp

Both commands are functionally equivalent, though APT is generally preferred for its streamlined user experience. APT's functionality is analogous to using YUM with RPM on Red Hat-based systems—it utilizes DPKG for low-level package management while managing repositories and dependencies at a higher level.

APT relies on software repositories defined in the sources file. The repository details are stored in:

/etc/apt/sources.list

This information can point to local directories (or even a CD-ROM) as well as to remote sources accessible via HTTP, HTTPS, or FTP.

Common APT Commands

Below is a table summarizing key APT commands along with their use cases:

Additionally, you can manage your repository sources using apt edit-sources or by directly editing the /etc/apt/sources.list file with your preferred text editor such as Vim or Nano.

Summary

This article introduced the basics of DPKG and APT for package management in Debian-based distributions. While DPKG is ideal for managing individual .deb files, APT provides enhanced functionality by resolving dependencies and managing repositories. Mastering these tools is crucial for ensuring a smooth software installation and management experience.

For further reading, consider reviewing the Kubernetes Documentation and exploring additional package management best practices.