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Package Managers

A Package manager keeps track of what "packages" are installed on your system. These packages contain the software and the libraries that are needed to run that software.

Graphical Front Ends by Distro

  • Ubuntu: Ubuntu Software

  • Debian: synaptic (not built-in)

  • Arch: pamac-manager (built-in with Manjaro)

List by Distro

  • Debian: apt

  • Arch: pacman

  • Fedora/CentOS: dnf/yum

  • OpenSUSE: zypper

  • Gentoo: portage

Using apt

Where NAME is a package name or description (or part of one) and PACKAGE is a package name

  • Search: sudo apt search PACKAGE

  • Install: sudo apt install PACKAGE

  • Update: sudo apt update then sudo apt upgrade

Using pacman

Where NAME is a package name or description (or part of one) and PACKAGE is a package name

  • Search: sudo pacman -Q NAME

  • Install: sudo pacman -Sy NAME

  • Update: sudo pacman -Syu update

Using dnf or yum

Where NAME is a package name or description (or part of one) and PACKAGE is a package name

  • Search: sudo dnf search PACKAGE

  • Install: sudo dnf install PACKAGE

  • Update: sudo dnf upgrade