aptitude command in Linux with examples (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025

The aptitude command in Linux provides a user-friendly interface to interact with the machine's package manager. It functions similarly to a control panel, like in Windows, allowing you to install, upgrade, and remove packages. The command can be used in either a visual interface or directly via the command line, similar to the apt-get command.

**aptitude command in Linux package system opens up a highly built-in interface to interact with the package manager of the machine. It is the _control panel of programs and packages in Windows. You can _install, _upgrade and _remove your packages using this well-built interface. Also, the actions can be performed using the command-line(similar to apt-get command) or the visual interface.

**Installation aptitude

**1. For Non-Root Users:

**2. For Root Users:

**Syntax

aptitude [options] ...

Syntax

After running the command, the terminal will open up the interactive interface.

**Important Usage of aptitude command:

**Command-line Actions

If none is specified then aptitude command will enter into the interactive mode and following actions can be performed using the command-line interface.

**install: To install or upgrade the packages.
**Syntax:
aptitude install package_name
**remove: To remove the packages.
**Syntax:
aptitude remove package_name
**purge: To remove the packages and their configuration files. This will remove the package along with all its associated configurations, data files, and details.
**Syntax:
aptitude purge package_name
**hold: To place the packages on hold by canceling any active installation, upgrade, or removal, and prevent this package from being automatically upgraded in the future as well.
**Syntax:
aptitude hold package_name
**unhold: Cancel a hold command for a package.
**markauto: To mark packages as having been automatically installed.
**unmarkauto: To mark packages as having been manually installed.
**forbid-version: To forbid aptitude from upgrading to a specific package version.
**update: To download the lists of new or upgradable packages.
**safe-upgrade: To perform a safe upgrade.
**full-upgrade: To perform an upgrade, possibly installing and removing packages and also to install packages which safe-upgrade cannot do.
**Syntax:
aptitude full-upgrade
**build-dep: To install the build-dependencies of packages.
**forget-new: To forget what packages are "new".
**search: This is used to search for a package by name and/or expression.
**show: To display detailed info about a package.
**Syntax:
aptitude show package
**Example:
**showsrc: To display detailed info about a source package (apt wrapper).
**versions: To display the versions of specified packages.
**clean: To erase downloaded package files.
**autoclean: To erase old downloaded package files.
**Syntax:
aptitude autoclean
**Example:
**changelog: To view a package's changelog.
**download: To download the _.deb file for a package (apt wrapper).
**source: To download source package (apt wrapper).
**reinstall: To reinstall a currently installed package.
**why: To get the explanation why a particular package should be installed.
**why-not: To get the explanation why a particular package cannot be installed.
**add-user-tag: To add user tag to packages/patterns.
**remove-user-tag: To remove user tag from packages/patterns.

Commonly used aptitude command options

Options	Description
-D, --show-deps	It is used for the commands which are used to install or remove the packages.
-f	Used to fix the dependencies of the broken packages.
-d, --download-only	Used to download the packages to the package cache if required. But this option will not install or remove anything.
-h, --help	It will display a help message and exit.

Command line actions

Conclusion

The aptitude command is a versatile tool for managing packages in Linux. With both interactive and command-line modes, it allows for a wide range of package management tasks, from installation to updates, and even dependency fixing. If you prefer a visual interface or prefer the command line, aptitude offers extensive functionality for users of all levels.