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01-linux/packages/package-management-reference.md

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+---
+title: "Linux Package Management Reference: apt, dnf, pacman"
+domain: linux
+category: packages
+tags: [packages, apt, dnf, pacman, linux, distros]
+status: published
+created: 2026-03-08
+updated: 2026-03-08
+---
+
+# Linux Package Management Reference: apt, dnf, pacman
+
+Every major Linux distro has a package manager. The commands are different but the concepts are the same: install, remove, update, search. Here's the equivalent commands across the three you're most likely to encounter.
+
+## Common Tasks by Package Manager
+
+| Task | apt (Debian/Ubuntu) | dnf (Fedora/RHEL) | pacman (Arch) |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| Update package index | `apt update` | `dnf check-update` | `pacman -Sy` |
+| Upgrade all packages | `apt upgrade` | `dnf upgrade` | `pacman -Su` |
+| Update index + upgrade | `apt update && apt upgrade` | `dnf upgrade` | `pacman -Syu` |
+| Install a package | `apt install pkg` | `dnf install pkg` | `pacman -S pkg` |
+| Remove a package | `apt remove pkg` | `dnf remove pkg` | `pacman -R pkg` |
+| Remove + config files | `apt purge pkg` | `dnf remove pkg` | `pacman -Rn pkg` |
+| Search for a package | `apt search term` | `dnf search term` | `pacman -Ss term` |
+| Show package info | `apt show pkg` | `dnf info pkg` | `pacman -Si pkg` |
+| List installed | `apt list --installed` | `dnf list installed` | `pacman -Q` |
+| Which pkg owns file | `dpkg -S /path/to/file` | `rpm -qf /path/to/file` | `pacman -Qo /path/to/file` |
+| List files in pkg | `dpkg -L pkg` | `rpm -ql pkg` | `pacman -Ql pkg` |
+| Clean cache | `apt clean` | `dnf clean all` | `pacman -Sc` |
+
+## apt (Debian, Ubuntu, and derivatives)
+
+```bash
+# Always update before installing
+sudo apt update
+
+# Install
+sudo apt install nginx
+
+# Install multiple
+sudo apt install nginx curl git
+
+# Remove
+sudo apt remove nginx
+
+# Remove with config files
+sudo apt purge nginx
+
+# Autoremove orphaned dependencies
+sudo apt autoremove
+
+# Search
+apt search nginx
+
+# Show package details
+apt show nginx
+
+# Upgrade a specific package
+sudo apt install --only-upgrade nginx
+```
+
+**APT sources** live in `/etc/apt/sources.list` and `/etc/apt/sources.list.d/`. Third-party PPAs go here. After adding a source, run `apt update` before installing from it.
+
+## dnf (Fedora, RHEL, AlmaLinux, Rocky)
+
+```bash
+# Update everything
+sudo dnf upgrade
+
+# Install
+sudo dnf install nginx
+
+# Remove
+sudo dnf remove nginx
+
+# Search
+dnf search nginx
+
+# Info
+dnf info nginx
+
+# List groups (collections of packages)
+dnf group list
+
+# Install a group
+sudo dnf group install "Development Tools"
+
+# History — see what was installed and when
+dnf history
+dnf history info <id>
+
+# Undo a transaction
+sudo dnf history undo <id>
+```
+
+dnf's history and undo features are underused and genuinely useful when you've installed something that broke things.
+
+## pacman (Arch, Manjaro)
+
+```bash
+# Full system update (do this before anything else, Arch is rolling)
+sudo pacman -Syu
+
+# Install
+sudo pacman -S nginx
+
+# Remove
+sudo pacman -R nginx
+
+# Remove with dependencies not needed by anything else
+sudo pacman -Rs nginx
+
+# Search
+pacman -Ss nginx
+
+# Info
+pacman -Si nginx
+
+# Query installed packages
+pacman -Q          # all installed
+pacman -Qs nginx   # search installed
+pacman -Qi nginx   # info on installed package
+
+# Find orphaned packages
+pacman -Qdt
+
+# Clean package cache
+sudo pacman -Sc    # keep installed versions
+sudo pacman -Scc   # remove all cached packages
+```
+
+**AUR (Arch User Repository)** — packages not in the official repos. Use an AUR helper like `yay` or `paru`:
+
+```bash
+# Install yay
+git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
+cd yay && makepkg -si
+
+# Then use like pacman
+yay -S package-name
+```
+
+## Flatpak and Snap (Distro-Agnostic)
+
+For software that isn't in your distro's repos or when you want a sandboxed installation:
+
+```bash
+# Flatpak
+flatpak install flathub com.spotify.Client
+flatpak run com.spotify.Client
+flatpak update
+
+# Snap
+sudo snap install spotify
+sudo snap refresh
+```
+
+Flatpak is what I prefer — better sandboxing story, Flathub has most things you'd want. Snap works fine but the infrastructure is more centralized.
+
+## Gotchas & Notes
+
+- **Always `apt update` before `apt install`.** Installing from a stale index can grab outdated versions or fail entirely.
+- **`apt upgrade` vs `apt full-upgrade`:** `full-upgrade` (or `dist-upgrade`) allows package removal to resolve conflicts. Use it for major upgrades. `upgrade` won't remove anything.
+- **Arch is rolling — update frequently.** Partial upgrades on Arch cause breakage. Always do `pacman -Syu` (full update) before installing anything.
+- **dnf is noticeably slower than apt on first run** due to metadata downloads. Gets faster after the cache is warm.
+- **Don't mix package sources carelessly.** Adding random PPAs (apt) or COPR repos (dnf) can conflict with each other. Keep third-party sources to a minimum.
+
+## See Also
+
+- [[linux-distro-guide-beginners]]
+- [[linux-server-hardening-checklist]]