apt-get and dpkg commands for Debian GNU/Linux

Basics

Debian GNU/Linux uses apt short for Advanced Package Tool.

Install software using apt

apt-get install software

Updating the list of packages in your sources.list

apt-get update

Update software using apt

apt-get upgrade

To change the list of apt mirrors

apt-setup

Search for package

apt-cache search package

Uninstall software using apt

apt-get remove software

Shortcuts

update the package lists

apt-get update

update the available package lists

dselect update

upgrade all installed packages

apt-get upgrade

installs package

apt-get install dpkg

uninstall package

apt-get remove dpkg

show all installed and removed packages

dpkg -l

show install status of package

dpkg -l dpkg

show all packages that match pattern

dpkg -S pattern

list packages that contain string

dpkg 

list files in package

dpkg -L dpkg

show status of package

dpkg -s dpkg

show details of package

dpkg -p dpkg

list relevant packages

apt-cache search string

install package from a deb file

 dpkg -i file.deb

purge package (and config?)

 dpkg -P dpkg

re-run the configure for a package

 dpkg-reconfigure dpkg

get the source

apt-get source pkg

config build-deps for source and install as needed

apt-get build-dep

install package from specific release

apt-get -t release install pkg

prevent name from running at bootup

update-rc.d -f name remove

upgrade the distribution

apt-get dist-upgrade