Apt
(Advanced Package Tool) and dpkg
(Debian Package Manager) are both package managers used in Debian-based Linux distributions. However, noticeable differences are seen between the two tools.
Apt vs. Dpkg
-
Apt
(Advanced Package Tool) is a newer package manager that offers more features thandpkg
. It can automatically handle dependencies, so you don't have to worry about manually installing them.Apt
also has a wider range of repositories from which you can install packages.Dpkg
(Debian Package Management System) is the older package manager. It doesn't have as many features asapt
, but it's still a powerful tool.Dpkg
can't automatically handle dependencies, so you'll need to install them manually.Dpkg
also has a limited range of repositories, but you can still find the most common packages. -
Apt
is a higher-level tool that provides a more straightforward interface to work with thandpkg
. Whiledpkg
can only install, remove, or query individual packages, apt offers additional functionality, such as automatically handling dependencies, retrieving and installing packages from remote locations, and upgrading all installed packages to their latest versions. -
Additionally,
apt
offers several useful commands for managing repositories and upgrading the system. For example, theapt-get
command can install or remove packages, while theapt-cache
command can search for available packages. -
Another difference is that
dpkg
is primarily a command-line tool, whileapt
also provides a graphical user interface (GUI) in the form of the aptitude tool. -
Apt
offers additional features, such as rollback changes, whereasdpkg
does not.
Which Package manager should you use?
So, which package manager should you use? It depends on your needs. If you want a more powerful tool with automatic dependency management, then apt
is the way to go. On the other hand, if you want a more straightforward package manager or if you need to install packages from a specific repository, then dpkg
is the better choice.
Overall, apt
(Recommended tool) is a more user-friendly and robust option than dpkg
, making it the preferred package manager for most users. It provides a simpler and more automated way to manage packages on your system. However, dpkg
can still be helpful in certain situations, such as when working with old or custom packages that are unavailable through apt
.
Conclusion
Apt
and Dpkg
do the same thing but with different results. Apt
is newer and has more features, while dpkg
is the lower-level tool upon which apt is built. If you're doing basic package management, either tool will work fine. However, for more complex tasks or if you need greater flexibility, apt
is the better choice. If the article was helpful, share it.
Thanks for reading.