• From: here
  • Registered: 2010-01-15
  • Posts: 192

Topic: Fun With Aptitude

I really like playing around with aptitude and use it as my main package manager. Apart from installing and removing packages it also has powerful search capabilities. Here's a few examples for people who might like to explore their systems.

Show explicitly installed packages (i.e. no dependencies).

$ aptitude search '~i !~M' | cut -d" " -f4 | sort | uniq

The output can be saved to a file by adding > filename.txt

$ aptitude search '~i !~M' | cut -d" " -f4 | sort | uniq > explicitly_installed.txt

Show packages installed from crunchbang's repository.

$ aptitude search ~i~Astatler -F"%p#  %s#  %t#" |grep statler

Show packages from non-free to see how much RMS will (not)respect you smile

$ aptitude search ~i~snon-free -F"%p#  %s#  %t#"

Aptitude has an amazing array of search patterns to play with - check this link for the complete list.

http://algebraicthunk.net/~dburrows/pro … 03s05.html

Have fun and add your favorites below....

.signature
  • From: Philadelphia
  • Registered: 2011-05-09
  • Posts: 312

Re: Fun With Aptitude

There's also a little program called vrms (virtual rms) that searches for non-free packages. Good for a laugh.

But yeah, aptitude is great; I don't see myself going outside the Debian world beyond aptitude's reach anytime soon!

Edit: that's a wonderful link. Here's its homepage: http://algebraicthunk.net/~dburrows/pro … index.html

Last edited by dmhdlr (2011-05-17 22:40:03)

"Emacs: making you posthuman since 1976"
Axiom #1: Emacs is a text interface prosthesis
Axiom #2: Org-mode gives you super cyborg organizational powers
cf. Why Emacs | Emacs-fu | EmacsWiki | Worg
  • From: here
  • Registered: 2010-01-15
  • Posts: 192

Re: Fun With Aptitude

@replicant didn't know about vrms - brilliant

$ vrms 
                Non-free packages installed on box

skype                     Skype
unrar                     Unarchiver for .rar files (non-free version)

                 Contrib packages installed on box

flashplugin-nonfree       Adobe Flash Player - browser plugin
ttf-mscorefonts-installer Installer for Microsoft TrueType core fonts

  2 non-free packages, 0.2% of 815 installed packages.
  2 contrib packages, 0.2% of 815 installed packages.

Gah - even contrib is an issue smile

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  • Registered: 2010-09-02
  • Posts: 347

Re: Fun With Aptitude

Yes and conky is contrib.

Get Dropbox and an extra 250 mb http://db.tt/wAizqw0
  • benj1
  • Wiki Wizard
  • Offline
  • From: Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2009-09-05
  • Posts: 1,084

Re: Fun With Aptitude

d2ogch3n wrote:

@replicant didn't know about vrms - brilliant

thats a bit disappointing, I was expecting something like this:

echo "RMS says $(aptitude search ~i~snon-free -F'%p#  %s#  %t#' | wc -l) unicorn tears have been shed because of YOU"
- - - - - - - - Wiki Pages - - - - - - -
#! install guide           *autostart programs, modify the menu & keybindings
configuring Conky       *installing scripts
  • Awebb
  • #! Die-hard
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-07-23
  • Posts: 2,471

Re: Fun With Aptitude

benj1 wrote:
echo "RMS says $(aptitude search ~i~snon-free -F'%p#  %s#  %t#' | wc -l) unicorn tears have been shed because of YOU"

I will quote that one on the Arch forums on occasion.

I'm so meta, even this acronym
  • benj1
  • Wiki Wizard
  • Offline
  • From: Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2009-09-05
  • Posts: 1,084

Re: Fun With Aptitude

Awebb wrote:

I will quote that one on the Arch forums on occasion.

lol, i was thinking it would make a good sig.

- - - - - - - - Wiki Pages - - - - - - -
#! install guide           *autostart programs, modify the menu & keybindings
configuring Conky       *installing scripts