Debian/Ubuntu: apt versus apt-get

[dimitrisp]

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In "recent" times, we've been seeing more and more tutorials using apt instead of apt-get. Is it the wrong, or the right one?

Nothing wrong using the first or the later... Or both!

apt command arose to usage because it combines the... "best of both!" Some commands we use come from apt-get (such as install) and some other come from apt-cache. (such as search).

Not really the best, but the most popular, most widely-used commands. It is intended to replace both apt-get and apt-cache to just apt!

There's nothing wrong if you decide to NOT use it, and continue using apt-get. In fact, it interacts with the system on a lower level, and this might be more effecient (talking to self: seriously? you talk about efficacy? how much difference can that make?)

If you are in a hurry, you can always type apt instead of apt-get! It will save you a whole lot of... 0.25-0.3sec each time? (Seriously again?)

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I'm sorry if you didn't like my semi-sarcastic tone at the end, I felt like it, and I think it really adds a little something. The GIF is from South Park's episode Cash for Gold (S16E02). Watch it on the official South Park website for free

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Comments

[slash-es]

I used to use aptitude more than apt-get because it automatically cleans obsolete packages for you and it combines a number of apt-* commands.

But apt-get was always the recommended tool by Debian, especially when doing a dist-upgrade.

I think apt was introduced in Debian Stretch and I've been using that for a while now. I like its ouput more than the other tools, but unfortunately it doesn't jave all the commands and options yet.

So I keep switching between apt and apt-*, but no aptitude anymore. I've been using Debian for 15 years now, so it's no problem for me but I can imagine it can scare new users.

[dimitrisp]

When I first tried linux, it was thanks to Caldera Linux (if memory serves right) in 2002. To be honest, I was so afraid of it, that I didn't touch linux again until 2007 with Ubuntu 6.10!

aptitude is scary to be honest, I've had to reinstall Ubuntu 5 times in a week, because I didn't know what I was doing xD

But thankfully, I picked up a book and a lot of tutorials over the net, and 10 years later I can say "thanks for apt" and "thanks for apt-get"!

Thanks for taking part :)

[woojoo]

If speed is what your looking for you should consider apt-fast . At least for the update and download speeds it can give you some big improvements (depending on the number of mirrors you use).