Chapter 2

Package Management Tools

Introduction

A package in Debian is delivered in a single file using the .deb extension to

identify it as a binary package. This package file contains all the data and

program executable files delivered by the package, as well as all the control

information used by the package manager to install the files correctly on your

system. While you can install packages without the tools, it is much easier to

install Debian packages with the Debian Package Management Tools.

This chapter covers the three primary package management tools found in

the Debian distribution; dpkg, dselect, and apt get. The following pages will

cover the use of these tools to install, upgrade, or remove individual packages

as well as groups of packages. In addition the use of these tools to provide

administrative information about the packages installed on the system which

will be described. Details about how packages are actually built can be found

in the developers documents provided with the Debian system, and are not a

part of the material covered in this chapter.

27