Combine 4 most useful Apt-Get commands into one!

**Saint Angeles** · October 10th, 2008

(EDITED on 10/24/08 )

i have just made a bash script that allows me to run

Code:

apt-get check
apt-get update
apt-get dist-upgrade
apt-get autoclean
apt-get autoremove

in one bash script. all i have to do is type

Code:

apt5

into a command prompt and the commands will be run. (it used to be 4 commands until somebody suggested i also add "apt-get check". now its 5.

heres how I did it:

WARNING: this will update every package on your computer including the kernel and xorg. it is possible this could lead to breakages so be careful and read everything in the terminal before agreeing to update.

1) i created a directory in my home folder called "bash" (~/bash). This is where I want to copy all custom bash scripts into.
2) I created a file called "updateall" (without quotes) and I put the file into this bash directory. What I wrote into "updateall" is this:

Code:

#!/bin/bash
#script to run several apt-get commands at once!

apt-get check &&

apt-get update &&

apt-get dist-upgrade &&

apt-get autoremove --purge &&

apt-get autoclean

I saved it. so now we have a file located at ~/bash/updateall

3) I created a file in my home directory called ".bash_aliases" (without quotes)
4) Inside this .bash_aliases I wrote this:

Code:

alias apt5='sudo sh ~/bash/updateall'

5) I restarted bash by logging out and re-logging in.

thats it! now, no matter where I am in my command prompt, I type

Code:

apt5

and my computer will run an apt-get check, apt-get update, apt-get dist-upgrade, apt-get autoclean, and apt-get autoremove.

This has saved me countless typing and I hope it can help a lot of other people here that use apt-get instead of the normal update-manager to install updates.

enjoy!

**brunovecchi** · October 23rd, 2008

Nice! I would append '&&' between commands, so that the next one is only executed if the preceding one succeeds.
Let's say your internet connection is down, then the first command fails and then it executes the second one that also needs a connection, and it will obviously fail too.
It's a minor thing, but it makes your otherwise pretty neat script more elegant.

**ThaRabbit** · October 23rd, 2008

Originally Posted by brunovecchi

Nice! I would append '&&' between commands, so that the next one is only executed if the preceding one succeeds.
Let's say your internet connection is down, then the first command fails and then it executes the second one that also needs a connection, and it will obviously fail too.
It's a minor thing, but it makes your otherwise pretty neat script more elegant.

additionally, this commando:

Code:

sudo apt-get clean

Will delete the local cache of packages downloaded via synaptic or other methods.

note that you can also configure this in synaptic. Settings -> Preferences -> Files

**semitone36** · October 23rd, 2008

Could you explain what each of those commands do?
<- terminal noob

**kerry_s** · October 23rd, 2008

i just use alias's

Code:

alias s='apt-cache search'
alias i='sudo apt-get install'
alias r='sudo apt-get --purge remove'
alias upd='sudo apt-get update;sudo apt-get dist-upgrade;sudo apt-get clean;sudo orphaner'

example:

s editor = search editor
i geany = installs geany
r geany = removes
upd = updates and shows upgrades, then cleans

yours:
alias all4='sudo apt-get update;sudo apt-get dist-upgrade;sudo apt-get autoclean;sudo apt-get autoremove'

**steveydoteu** · October 23rd, 2008

Expanding on this, taking updating out of the equation for the time being, I feel that a script to keep the packages in good order would be useful. I will share mine as follows:

Code:

#!/bin/bash
# keep that package list nice and healthy
# script to check nothing is broken and clean out all the fluff
# www.stevey.eu

apt-get check &&

apt-get autoremove &&

apt-get autoclean &&

apt-get clean

This way we are ensuring everything is in good working order and there is nothing left behind to cause possible issues prior to any attempts at syncing package lists or updating anything on our systems, far safer.

For those not savvy with the terminal and apt-get commands:

check will check that you have got no broken packages/dependancies

autoremove will remove any packages left behind that were installed previously by something else and are no longer required

autoclean will erase any old archive files used from previous installations of packages

clean as above but the more recent ones

**steveydoteu** · October 23rd, 2008

Originally Posted by kerry_s

i just use alias's

Code:

alias s='apt-cache search'
alias i='sudo apt-get install'
alias r='sudo apt-get --purge remove'
alias upd='sudo apt-get update;sudo apt-get dist-upgrade'
alias old='sudo apt-get clean;sudo orphaner'

I have never taken the time to try it out, as I usually use a custom filter within synaptic, but I am presuming orphaner is part of deborphan?

Does it just work automagically without any prompts removing all the orphaned packages?

**kerry_s** · October 23rd, 2008

Originally Posted by steveydoteu

I have never taken the time to try it out, as I usually use a custom filter within synaptic, but I am presuming orphaner is part of deborphan?

Does it just work automagically without any prompts removing all the orphaned packages?

no, everything on mine asks first, you would have to use the " -y, --yes, --assume-yes" if you want that.

for example, after dist-upgrade, if there's upgrades it stops with the "yes,no" question, then continues.

";" makes it only move on after the other is completed.

yes, orphaner is deborphan, you might want to take that out for ubuntu. i'm using etch.