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Asked: 2024-09-26T12:05:39+05:30 In:

How can I retrieve a list of all the packages that are currently installed on my Ubuntu system?

I’ve been diving into my Ubuntu system lately, and I wanted to get a handle on what I’ve actually got installed on it. You know how sometimes you end up installing a bunch of software, and then it’s hard to remember what’s there or which ones are actually useful? That’s where I’m at right now.

I was wondering if there’s an easy way to get a comprehensive list of all the packages I’ve installed. I know there’s some command line magic involved, but honestly, I’m not super confident in my terminal skills, and I’d rather not break anything. I’ve heard people mention different commands like `dpkg` or `apt`, but I get a bit lost with the options sometimes. There are also some graphical tools out there, but I’m not sure if they show everything or just certain kinds of applications.

Also, do I need to run my terminal with superuser permissions? I’ve had a few scare moments where I entered the wrong command, and it was a bit nerve-wracking. It’d be super helpful if someone could guide me through the steps or at least provide the exact command I should run to see the full list without any surprises. If there’s a way to filter or sort the list after that, maybe by size or installation date, that would be a cool bonus!

And another thing—once I have this list, should I be mindful of any packages that I might want to uninstall? It seems like cleaning things up is just as important as knowing what’s there. I wouldn’t want to mess things up by removing something critical, so advice on that would really help as well.

If anyone has a straightforward way to pull this off, I’d really appreciate it. Any tips or commands are welcome!

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    2 Answers

    1. Finding Installed Packages on Ubuntu

      If you want to see what packages you have installed on your Ubuntu system, it’s super easy! There are two main commands you can use in the terminal: dpkg and apt.

      Using dpkg

      To get a list of all installed packages, just open your terminal and type this command:

      dpkg --get-selections

      This will show you a list of packages. No need for superuser permissions here, so you can just run it as your normal user.

      Using apt

      You can also use the apt command, which is a bit more user-friendly. Run:

      apt list --installed

      This will also show you all the installed packages, and it provides a nice format. Again, no superuser required!

      Filtering and Sorting

      If you want to filter or look for specific packages, you can use the grep command. For example, if you want to find packages related to “python”, you could do:

      apt list --installed | grep python

      As for sorting by size or installation date, that’s a bit tricky using just the terminal. You might need to look into specific scripts or tools for that.

      Graphical Tools

      If the terminal feels a bit scary, there are graphical package managers like Synaptic or GNOME Software that can show you installed packages without using the command line.

      Uninstalling Packages

      Once you have your list, it’s a good idea to review it. If you see something you don’t use, you can uninstall it with:

      sudo apt remove package-name

      Just replace package-name with the actual name of the package. You might need superuser permissions here, so you’ll need to enter sudo at the beginning of the command.

      Be careful not to remove anything critical. If you’re unsure, just Google the package name to see what it is used for before uninstalling it.

      Good luck exploring your system!

    2. To get a comprehensive list of all the packages installed on your Ubuntu system, you can simply use the command line with the `dpkg` or `apt` tools. Open your terminal and run the following command to list all installed packages:

      dpkg --get-selections | grep -v deinstall

      This command will show you a complete list of installed packages, excluding any that have been marked for removal. You do not need superuser permissions to run this command, so you can execute it safely without the risk of altering system files. If you wish to sort or filter this list, you can pipe the output to other tools; for instance, you can sort it alphabetically with:

      dpkg --get-selections | grep -v deinstall | sort

      Regarding uninstallation, it’s essential to be cautious. After reviewing the list, if you find packages you’re sure you no longer need, you can remove them with the following command:

      sudo apt remove package_name

      Be aware that some packages may be dependencies required by other applications, so it’s a good idea to research any package before uninstalling it to avoid breaking other software. If you want to uninstall packages that were automatically installed and are no longer needed, you can run:

      sudo apt autoremove

      This command helps keep your system clean without risking the removal of essential packages. Always ensure you have backups, and consider reviewing the list of packages marked for removal before proceeding.

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