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Asked: 2024-09-25T23:54:18+05:30 In:

What steps should I follow to remove software that I installed using the terminal on Ubuntu?

So, here’s the situation—I’ve been messing around with my Ubuntu system, trying out all sorts of software through the terminal. It’s been a bit of a learning curve, but I think I’ve gotten the hang of it. However, now I find myself in a bit of a pickle because I installed a few things that I definitely don’t need anymore. I’ve heard that uninstalling software through the terminal can be a bit tricky if you’re not familiar with it, and I’m not quite sure what steps to follow.

The other day, I decided to try out this new text editor everyone was raving about, but honestly, it’s just not my vibe. Plus, I’ve got another one that I’ve been using forever and don’t want to switch. So, I’m thinking it’s time to clean things up and remove the ones I don’t need anymore. I want to make sure I do it right, though, because the last thing I want is to accidentally mess something up in my system.

I’ve seen a few people mention commands like `apt-get remove` or `apt purge`, but then there’s something about dependencies and not leaving behind a mess. I might need to get up to speed on how to handle that properly. Also, should I check for any lingering files afterwards?

If anyone has gone through a similar experience, can you share the exact steps you followed to remove software installed via the terminal? I’d love to know if there are any tips or tricks you’ve picked up along the way to make the process smoother. I imagine there’s a way to list out all the software I’ve installed, too, right?

Basically, I’m looking for a friendly guide to navigate this process without accidentally causing chaos in my system. Your insights would really help me out! Thanks!

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    2 Answers


    1. Uninstalling Software on Ubuntu: A Friendly Guide

      So, if you’re looking to clean up your Ubuntu system, you’re in the right place! It’s cool that you’re diving into the terminal, but I totally get the worry about messing things up. Let’s make this a smoother ride!

      1. Listing Your Installed Software

      First, to see what you’ve got installed, you can use the command:

      dpkg --get-selections

      This will give you a list of all installed packages. You can scroll through and find what you want to remove.

      2. Uninstalling Software

      When you find the software you want to uninstall, you can use either:

      • sudo apt-get remove package_name – This removes the package but leaves behind configuration files.
      • sudo apt-get purge package_name – This removes the package along with its configuration files.

      Replace package_name with the actual name of the software!

      3. Handling Dependencies

      Sometimes, when you uninstall a package, other packages that depended on it might still be around. To clean those up, run:

      sudo apt-get autoremove

      This will remove those extra packages that are no longer needed.

      4. Checking for Lingering Files

      After you’ve removed the software, you might want to check for lingering configuration files. You can do this by running:

      dpkg -l | grep '^rc'

      This will list any residual config files. If you find any, you can clean them up with:

      sudo dpkg --purge package_name

      5. A Safety Tip

      Always double-check the name of the package before you hit enter. If you’re unsure, you can always do a quick web search or ask someone for help. Better safe than sorry!

      Final Thoughts

      Feel free to reach out to the community if you have questions! It’s all part of the learning journey. Good luck, and happy cleaning! 😊



    2. To uninstall software on your Ubuntu system using the terminal, you can utilize the `apt` package manager, which simplifies the process for you. To begin, you can list all the installed packages by running the command dpkg --get-selections. This will give you a clear overview of what software is currently on your system. Once you’ve identified the specific application you wish to remove, you can proceed with either sudo apt-get remove [package_name] for a standard uninstall or sudo apt purge [package_name] if you want to remove the package along with its configuration files. This helps in ensuring there’s no leftover data, thus keeping your system clean. Don’t forget to replace [package_name] with the actual name of the software you want to uninstall.

      After removing the unwanted software, it’s a good practice to clean up any unused dependencies that may have been installed along with them. To do this, execute sudo apt autoremove, which automatically removes any packages that were installed as dependencies but are no longer required. Additionally, you might want to check for any lingering configuration files or residual data. You can do this by searching for the package name within /etc/ or other relevant directories. If you want to ensure everything is tidy, consider the command sudo apt clean, which cleans up the local repository of retrieved package files. Following these steps will help you maintain an organized system without causing any chaos.


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