Some hints for those new to the Debian Linux distro…

# apt-get update 

Resynchronize the package index files from their sources

# apt-cache search foo 
# apt-cache search foo | grep foo 

Searches all available packages names and descriptions for “foo”. Returns all packages containing “foo” anywhere in the description.

# apt-cache show foo 

Display details of package “foo”

# apt-get install foo  

Install package “foo” and all dependencies

# apt-get -u dist-upgrade  

Upgrades all installed software.

# dpkg-reconfigure foo  

Reconfigures package “foo” Example:

# dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86 

# apt-cache policy foo

Show all available sources and versions of package “foo”

More Details: (Found here http://linux.simple.be/debian/install)

# apt-get update          update the package lists  
# dselect update          update the available package lists  
# apt-get upgrade         upgrade all installed packages  
# apt-get install pkg     installs package  
# apt-get remove pkg      uninstall package
# dpkg -l                 show all installed and removed packages 
# dpkg -l pkg             show install status of package 
# dpkg -l "*pattern*"     show all packages that match pattern 
# dpkg -S pattern         list packages that contain string 
# dpkg -L pkg             list files in package 
# dpkg -s pkg             show status of package 
# dpkg -p pkg             show details of package 
# apt-cache search string list relevant packages
# dpkg -i file.deb        install package from a deb file  
# dpkg -P pkg             purge package (and config?)  
# dpkg-reconfigure pkg    re-run the configure for a package  
# apt-get source pkg      get the source  
# apt-get build-dep       config build-deps for source and install
# apt-get -t release install pkg    install package from specific release  
# update-rc.d -f name remove    prevent name from running at bootup  
# apt-get dist-upgrade    upgrade the distribution