apt vs. apt-get

Conclusions

It was high time to detox and dust off Debian's command-line package management tool. The new apt utility has been available since 2014, but habits change slowly, and apt has still not completely replaced apt-get in the real world. The differences between apt-get and apt still cause confusion in Internet forums, especially on Ubuntu and Linux Mint. Switching to apt is definitely worthwhile: The new command is faster, more logically structured, and easier to use.

Buy this article as PDF

Express-Checkout as PDF
Price $2.95
(incl. VAT)

Buy Linux Magazine

SINGLE ISSUES
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
 
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
Get it on Google Play

US / Canada

Get it on Google Play

UK / Australia

Related content

  • Command Line: Apt-get

    Dependency tangles fall away with the Debian package system.

  • Ask Klaus

    Klaus Knopper answers your Linux questions.

  • Evolutionary Tale

    Over the past 30 years, the apt family has played an important role in dependency resolution for Debian distros.

  • Command Line: apt-cache

    We take a look at apt-cache, an essential utility for command line-based package management.

  • Housekeeping

    When it comes to weeding out unnecessary packages on your Debian system, debfoster lets you conveniently arrange all your housekeeping functions into a single command.

comments powered by Disqus
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters

Support Our Work

Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

Learn More

News