Command Line Package Management Utility

Most of the Linux newbies say it is difficult to install softwares on Linux. Well, they are newbies! However, when it comes to installing softwares, a migration from Windows to Linux is always expected with an installation file and some "next" buttons which must be pressed for completing the formalities. Well, everyday cannot be a sunday. You can't expect the same thing to happen in every operating system. I am one of those people who take the shorter route. There is absolutely no need to worry about downloading the relevant packages and compiling them to make a software work. Linux uses a simple command line package management utility which makes the job unusually simple! Yes. One simple command can install a software without you having to monitor the process of installation. What good is an Operating System if it banks on us for something that we want it to do? Anyway, Linux uses this command line thingy to ease our work in installing stuff! Unfortunately, the commands differ with different distributions. But of course, each distribution uses its own package management system. Lets take a look,

yum - Yellowdog Updater Modified

This is used by RedHat Linux and its children Fedora-Cores. To install a software using the yum command, simply type

# yum install (package-name)

To make the whole process automated, add -y

# yum install -y (package-name)

(Wave goodbyes to the crappy "Next" buttons). Now the installation is much more easier than before. Just give the command and the package management system will take care of the rest.
OK! How the hell am I supposed to get rid of this software? Its as simple as you installed it. Just fire the following command and let yum do the talking!! Or cleaning, rather!

# yum remove -y (package-name)

With this, all the dependencies and packages would be removed and your Linux will be a lot cleaner now.

For Ubuntu, we have no dogs! But we do have something called Aptitude. Aptitude is a text-based front-end to the APT (Advanced Packaging Tool). There is hardly any difference between aptitude and apt-get. But people do prefer using aptitude. Both share the same repositories and install softwares. But the difference comes when a software is to be removed. Both aptitude and apt-get remove the dependencies. But aptitude removes those packages that are no longer in use. apt-get fails to take care of this simple, yet important, aspect. Anyway, I would like to introduce you one of the wonders of Ubuntu,

# sudo apt-get install (package-name)

# sudo aptitude install (package-name)

As said before, its easy to uninstall a software. Use remove in the place of install and you're done!

# sudo apt-get remove (package-name)

Of course, -y is always there!!

Okay now. What about SUSE?

SUSE has the famous Yast configuration tool. Yast, which actually stands for Yet Another Setup Tool, has been graded as one of the most efficient package management systems. Like other Linux distributions, Yast is also used for maintaining packages and installations in SUSE. It has various functions like installing software, configuring hardware, setting up networks, etc. Something I like about Yast is that it has a better GUI compared to other package management utilities which makes it easier to navigate and find things. However, the command line installation is done through zypper.

# zypper install (package-name)

# zypper update (package-name)

To uninstall a software, use

# zypper remove (package-name)