{ "api": "YAML JSON TOON Database", "version": "1.0.0", "format": "json", "dataset": { "id": 2922, "slug": "unix-package-management", "title": "Unix\/Linux Package Management (apt, yum, dnf, brew, pacman)", "description": "Package managers across distributions: Debian\/Ubuntu (apt), RHEL\/Fedora (yum\/dnf), macOS (brew), Arch (pacman). Installation, removal, repository management.", "summary": "Package managers by platform with description, common commands, configuration files and notes: apt, yum, dnf, Homebrew, pacman and dpkg.", "use_when": [ "You need the install, update or search command for a Linux or macOS package manager.", "You are writing cross-distribution setup instructions." ], "caveats": [ "Command names and defaults differ by distribution and version; yum is replaced by dnf on current Fedora and RHEL.", "Installing packages needs privileges (sudo) and trust in the repository." ], "related": [ "file-operations", "shell-scripting-guide", "infrastructure-as-code-tools", "containerization" ], "entry_count": 6, "fields": [ { "section": "managers", "field": "name", "type": "string", "example": "apt (Advanced Package Tool)" }, { "section": "managers", "field": "platform", "type": "string", "example": "Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint" }, { "section": "managers", "field": "description", "type": "string", "example": "High-level package manager for Debian-based sys\u2026" }, { "section": "managers", "field": "common_commands", "type": "array", "example": "[8 items]" }, { "section": "managers", "field": "config_files", "type": "array", "example": "[3 items]" }, { "section": "managers", "field": "notes", "type": "string", "example": "Use apt-get for scripts (stable output), apt fo\u2026" } ], "category": "Unix Commands", "category_slug": "unix-commands", "tags": "unix,linux,package-manager,apt,yum,dnf,brew,pacman", "view_count": 38, "created_at": 1777673262, "updated_at": 1777673262 }, "data": { "managers": [ { "name": "apt (Advanced Package Tool)", "platform": "Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint", "description": "High-level package manager for Debian-based systems. Handles dependency resolution, repository management, and package installation\/removal.", "common_commands": [ { "apt update": "Update package index from repositories" }, { "apt upgrade": "Upgrade all upgradable packages" }, { "apt install ": "Install package and dependencies" }, { "apt remove ": "Remove package, keep config files" }, { "apt purge ": "Remove package and config files" }, { "apt search ": "Search package descriptions" }, { "apt list --installed": "List all installed packages" }, { "apt show ": "Show package details" } ], "config_files": [ "\/etc\/apt\/sources.list", "\/etc\/apt\/sources.list.d\/", "\/etc\/apt\/apt.conf.d\/" ], "notes": "Use apt-get for scripts (stable output), apt for interactive use. sudo apt update before install\/upgrade. apt full-upgrade handles distribution upgrades. .deb files can be installed via dpkg -i but dependencies aren't resolved automatically." }, { "name": "yum (Yellowdog Updater Modified)", "platform": "RHEL, CentOS, Fedora (legacy)", "description": "Legacy package manager for RHEL-based systems. Being replaced by dnf but still widely used on older systems.", "common_commands": [ { "yum check-update": "Check for available updates" }, { "yum update": "Update all packages" }, { "yum install ": "Install package" }, { "yum remove ": "Remove package" }, { "yum search ": "Search packages" }, { "yum info ": "Show package info" }, { "yum list installed": "List installed packages" }, { "yum clean all": "Clean package cache" } ], "config_files": [ "\/etc\/yum.conf", "\/etc\/yum.repos.d\/" ], "notes": "yum is deprecated in favor of dnf (Yum's successor). Still present on CentOS 7, RHEL 7, and older Fedora. Uses RPM packages. Transactions are logged in \/var\/log\/yum.log." }, { "name": "dnf (Dandified Yum)", "platform": "Fedora, RHEL 8+, CentOS Stream, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux", "description": "Next-generation package manager for RPM-based distributions. Faster dependency resolution, cleaner API, better performance than yum.", "common_commands": [ { "dnf check-update": "Check for updates" }, { "dnf update": "Update all packages" }, { "dnf install ": "Install package" }, { "dnf remove ": "Remove package" }, { "dnf search ": "Search packages" }, { "dnf info ": "Show package details" }, { "dnf autoremove": "Remove orphaned dependencies" }, { "dnf module list": "List module streams (Fedora\/RHEL)" } ], "config_files": [ "\/etc\/dnf\/dnf.conf", "\/etc\/yum.repos.d\/", "\/etc\/dnf\/modules.d\/" ], "notes": "dnf is backward-compatible with yum commands. Uses libsolv for dependency resolution (faster). Module streams enable multiple versions of same software (e.g., nodejs:14, nodejs:16)." }, { "name": "Homebrew (brew)", "platform": "macOS, Linux (via Linuxbrew)", "description": "Missing package manager for macOS. Installs packages to \/usr\/local (or ~\/.linuxbrew on Linux). Simple formula-based system. Community-maintained.", "common_commands": [ { "brew update": "Update Homebrew and formulae" }, { "brew upgrade": "Upgrade all installed packages" }, { "brew install ": "Install package" }, { "brew uninstall ": "Remove package" }, { "brew search ": "Search formulae" }, { "brew info ": "Show package info" }, { "brew list": "List installed packages" }, { "brew tap ": "Add additional repository" } ], "config_files": [ "\/usr\/local\/Homebrew\/Library\/Taps\/", "~\/.brew\/ (Linuxbrew)", "\/usr\/local\/etc\/brew.git" ], "notes": "Installs from source by default (can use bottles = pre-built binaries). macOS GUI apps via brew install --cask. Linuxbrew requires build tools (gcc, make). Doesn't manage macOS system packages (use apt\/dpkg in Linux subsystem)." }, { "name": "pacman", "platform": "Arch Linux, Manjaro", "description": "Simple, fast package manager for Arch Linux. Binary packages, minimal dependency handling, rolling release model.", "common_commands": [ { "pacman -Sy": "Sync package databases" }, { "pacman -Syu": "Full system upgrade" }, { "pacman -S ": "Install package(s)" }, { "pacman -R ": "Remove package" }, { "pacman -Rns ": "Remove package and deps" }, { "pacman -Ss ": "Search packages" }, { "pacman -Qi ": "Show package info" }, { "pacman -Ql ": "List package files" } ], "config_files": [ "\/etc\/pacman.conf", "\/etc\/pacman.d\/", "\/etc\/pacman.d\/mirrorlist" ], "notes": "Arch is rolling release: pacman -Syu updates everything. -Syy forces refresh. Use pacman -Q to query local DB. AUR (Arch User Repository) accessed via helpers like yay or paru (not official pacman)." }, { "name": "dpkg", "platform": "Debian, Ubuntu (low-level)", "description": "Low-level Debian package manager. Used by apt underneath. Handles .deb files directly without dependency resolution.", "common_commands": [ { "dpkg -i ": "Install .deb package" }, { "dpkg -r ": "Remove package (keep config)" }, { "dpkg -P ": "Purge package and config" }, { "dpkg -l": "List all installed packages" }, { "dpkg -L ": "List files installed by package" }, { "dpkg -S ": "Find which package owns file" }, { "dpkg -c ": "List contents of .deb file" }, { "dpkg-reconfigure ": "Re-run package config" } ], "config_files": [ "\/var\/lib\/dpkg\/status", "\/var\/lib\/dpkg\/available", "\/etc\/apt\/sources.list (for apt integration)" ], "notes": "Use dpkg --force-all carefully. dpkg -i doesn't resolve dependencies (apt-get -f install fixes). dpkg-query provides more advanced querying. Configuration files stored in \/etc and preserved on remove unless purged." } ] } }