Find, install and upgrade Linux software

• Update packages list: sudo apt update
• See packages that can be upgraded: apt list --upgradable
• See all packages that can be upgraded: apt list --upgradable -a
• Upgrade packages: apt upgrade
• Upgrade packages without asking me yes/no: apt upgrade -y
• Search for packages: apt-cache search foo OR apt search foo
• Get details about a specific package: apt-cache show foo OR apt show foo

apt-cache

The apt-cache command can display much of the information stored in APT’s internal database. This information is a sort of cache since it is gathered from the different sources listed in the sources.list file. This happens during the apt update operation.

Links

• The Debian Administrator’s Handbook: 6.3. The apt-cache Command