apt list upgradable

Guri Bee

2 min read

·

20-10-2024

2

0

Share

Keeping Your Linux System Up-to-Date with apt list upgradable

Maintaining a secure and efficient Linux system requires regular updates. One of the most important tools for this task is the apt list upgradable command. This article will guide you through the process of using this command effectively and provide valuable insights into keeping your system secure and up-to-date.

What is apt list upgradable?

apt list upgradable is a powerful command-line utility in Debian-based Linux distributions (like Ubuntu, Debian, and Linux Mint) that identifies software packages on your system that have newer versions available in the repositories. This helps you stay informed about available updates and ensures your system runs with the latest and most secure software.

How to Use apt list upgradable

The command itself is quite simple to use:

apt list upgradable

This will output a list of all packages that have newer versions available in the repositories. The output might look something like this:

Listing... Done
firefox/jammy-updates 105.0+build1-0ubuntu1.1 amd64 [upgradable from: 103.0+build1-0ubuntu1]
libreoffice-gtk/jammy-updates 7.3.5.2-0ubuntu0.1 amd64 [upgradable from: 7.3.4.2-0ubuntu1]

This output indicates that Firefox and LibreOffice have newer versions available.

Understanding the Output

The output of apt list upgradable is organized as follows:

• Package Name: The name of the package that has an update available.
• Repository: The repository where the update is available. (e.g., "jammy-updates" for Ubuntu 22.04)
• Version: The new version available for the package.
• Architecture: The system architecture the package is for (e.g., amd64 for 64-bit systems).
• Upgradable From: The currently installed version on your system.

Updating Packages

Once you have identified the upgradable packages, you can update them using the following command:

sudo apt upgrade

This command will download and install the latest versions of all packages that have updates available.

Important Note: It is crucial to always run sudo apt update before running sudo apt upgrade to ensure that the package lists are up-to-date.

Staying Proactive with apt list upgradable

While sudo apt upgrade automatically updates most packages, it's a good practice to run apt list upgradable periodically. This allows you to:

• Identify specific updates: You can see which packages have updates available and choose to upgrade only those that are relevant to you.
• Plan your updates: Running apt list upgradable allows you to schedule updates during off-peak hours, minimizing potential disruptions to your workflow.
• Stay informed: You can be aware of the latest software releases and security updates available for your system.

Additional Tips and Tricks

• apt list --upgradable: This command provides a slightly more concise output, focusing on the packages and their new versions.
• apt show <package>: To get more information about a specific package before upgrading, you can use apt show command.
• Using apt-get: While apt is the recommended tool for package management, you can also use apt-get with similar commands. For example, apt-get list --upgradable and apt-get upgrade work the same way.

Conclusion

Regularly using apt list upgradable is an essential practice for maintaining a secure and efficient Linux system. By staying informed about available updates and upgrading promptly, you can ensure your system enjoys the latest features, improved performance, and enhanced security.