Toolbox Aid

August 9th, 2024 12:41 PM Mr. Q Categories: Command

Command: apt-get remove

Used to remove a specific package from your system. This command removes the package but leaves configuration files, so the package can be reinstalled later without losing its settings.

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Sample Command and Output:

$ sudo apt-get remove vim
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  vim vim-common vim-runtime xxd
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 4 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B of archives.
After this operation, 11.0 MB of disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]

Description:

• sudo apt-get remove <package_name>: Removes the specified package (vim in this example). The command also lists additional packages that will be removed due to dependencies. Configuration files for the removed package are not deleted.

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Additional Commands and Sample Outputs:

• apt-get remove --dry-run <package_name>: Simulate the removal of a package without making any changes. Sample Command and Output:

  $ sudo apt-get remove --dry-run vim
  Reading package lists... Done
  Building dependency tree       
  Reading state information... Done
  The following packages would be REMOVED:
    vim vim-common vim-runtime xxd

Description:

• apt-get remove --dry-run <package_name>: Shows what would be removed if the command were executed, without actually performing the removal. Useful for verifying what changes will occur.
• apt-get remove <package_name> --auto-remove: Remove the specified package and automatically remove packages that were installed as dependencies but are no longer needed. Sample Command and Output:

  $ sudo apt-get remove --auto-remove vim
  Reading package lists... Done
  Building dependency tree       
  Reading state information... Done
  The following packages will be REMOVED:
    vim vim-common vim-runtime xxd
  The following packages will be automatically removed:
    vim-gtk vim-tiny
  0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 4 to remove and 2 to auto-remove.
  Need to get 0 B of archives.
  After this operation, 15.0 MB of disk space will be freed.

Description:

• apt-get remove <package_name> --auto-remove: Removes the specified package and any other packages that were installed as dependencies and are no longer needed by any other installed package.
• apt-get remove --purge <package_name>: Remove the specified package and its configuration files. Sample Command and Output:

  $ sudo apt-get remove --purge vim
  Reading package lists... Done
  Building dependency tree       
  Reading state information... Done
  The following packages will be REMOVED:
    vim vim-common vim-runtime xxd
  The following packages will be automatically removed:
    vim-gtk vim-tiny
  0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 4 to remove and 2 to auto-remove.
  After this operation, 15.0 MB of disk space will be freed.

Description:

• apt-get remove --purge <package_name>: Removes the specified package and its configuration files, freeing up additional space but losing any custom settings.

Note: Use apt-get remove for routine package removal when you might want to keep configuration files. Use apt-get purge if you want to completely remove the package, including configuration files.