What are the essential commands to know for Linux software installation?

2 Installation Command

Once you've identified the software package, the next step is installation. On Debian-based systems, this is done with sudo apt-get install package_name , where 'package_name' is the name of the software you want to install. For Red Hat-based systems, you would use sudo dnf install package_name . This command requires administrative privileges, hence the 'sudo' prefix. It's crucial to ensure that you have the correct package name and that your system has the necessary permissions to perform the installation.

3 Update System

Keeping your system updated is crucial for security and performance. The command sudo apt-get update is used on Debian-based systems to refresh the list of available packages and their versions. It doesn't actually install or upgrade any software but prepares the system for these actions. For Red Hat-based systems, sudo dnf check-update performs a similar function by checking for available updates. Regularly updating your system can prevent vulnerabilities and maintain software compatibility.

4 Upgrade Packages

To actually upgrade installed packages to their latest versions, Debian-based users will use sudo apt-get upgrade . This command will download and apply updates for all packages that have new versions available. For Red Hat-based systems, the equivalent command is sudo dnf upgrade . Upgrading packages ensures that you're running the most recent and secure versions of your software, which is especially important for developers who need to stay on top of the latest fixes and features.

5 Remove Software

Sometimes, you may need to remove software that is no longer needed. The command for this on Debian-based systems is sudo apt-get remove package_name , and for Red Hat-based systems, it's sudo dnf remove package_name . This command will uninstall the specified software but may leave behind configuration files. To completely remove the software along with its configuration files, you can use sudo apt-get purge package_name or sudo dnf remove --purge package_name .

6 Manage Dependencies

Managing software dependencies is a key aspect of maintaining a healthy system. The apt-get and dnf package managers automatically handle dependencies during installation and removal of software. However, occasionally you might encounter broken dependencies. To fix these issues on Debian-based systems, use sudo apt-get -f install , which will attempt to correct a system with broken dependencies in place. On Red Hat-based systems, sudo dnf autoremove can help clean up unneeded dependencies that were installed with packages now removed from the system.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?