Toolbox Aid

August 9th, 2024 12:48 PM Mr. Q Categories: Command

Command: apt-cache depends package_name

Used to list the packages that a specified package depends on. This helps in understanding which other packages are required for the specified package to function correctly.

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Sample Command and Output:

$ apt-cache depends vim
vim
  Depends: vim-common
  Depends: vim-runtime
  Depends: libncurses5
  Depends: libc6

Description:

• apt-cache depends <package_name>: Displays the packages that are required by the specified package (vim in this example). It lists the direct dependencies that need to be installed for the package to work properly.

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Additional Commands and Sample Outputs:

• apt-cache rdepends package_name: Show the packages that depend on the specified package. Sample Command and Output:

  $ apt-cache rdepends vim
  vim
    Reverse Depends: 
      vim-gtk
      vim-tiny
      vim-common
      vim-runtime

Description:

• apt-cache rdepends <package_name>: Lists the packages that depend on the specified package. This helps in understanding the impact of removing a package on other installed packages.
• apt-cache showpkg package_name: Show detailed package information including dependencies. Sample Command and Output:

  $ apt-cache showpkg vim
  Package: vim
  Versions:
   2:8.1.2269-1ubuntu5 (/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_focal_main_binary-amd64_packages)
      Description Language:
      File: /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_focal_main_binary-amd64_packages
      MD5: e3d7a5c6e42a9f8b9f4d891f62b7d4f7

  Reverse Depends:
    vim-gtk, vim 2:8.1.2269-1ubuntu5
    vim-tiny, vim 2:8.1.2269-1ubuntu5

Description:

• apt-cache showpkg <package_name>: Provides detailed information about the package including its dependencies, available versions, and reverse dependencies.

Note: Use apt-cache depends to check the dependencies of a package before installation to ensure all required dependencies are satisfied.