Should I use “apt-get remove” or “apt-get purge”?apt-get or aptitudevirtualenv type tool for...

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Should I use “apt-get remove” or “apt-get purge”?

apt-get or aptitudevirtualenv type tool for apt-get?dpkg sees them, but apt-get can't remove them?apt-get purge does not uninstall completelyUbuntu use compiled package instead of apt-getWhen and why should I use apt-get update?Syncing AIDE and apt-getRemoving 1 package wants to remove system packages AptRemove package and installed dependencies with apt-getHow does the purge command know where to look to delete package config files?

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For uninstalling an app (or package) should I use apt-get remove package-name or apt-get purge package-name?

What is advantage of any of them to other one?

edited May 1 '14 at 16:48

derobert

77.2k8168227

asked Mar 9 '14 at 18:44

Rahmani

4151415

add a comment |

For uninstalling an app (or package) should I use apt-get remove package-name or apt-get purge package-name?

What is advantage of any of them to other one?

edited May 1 '14 at 16:48

derobert

77.2k8168227

asked Mar 9 '14 at 18:44

Rahmani

4151415

add a comment |

For uninstalling an app (or package) should I use apt-get remove package-name or apt-get purge package-name?

What is advantage of any of them to other one?

edited May 1 '14 at 16:48

derobert

77.2k8168227

asked Mar 9 '14 at 18:44

Rahmani

4151415

For uninstalling an app (or package) should I use apt-get remove package-name or apt-get purge package-name?

What is advantage of any of them to other one?

apt package-management

edited May 1 '14 at 16:48

derobert

77.2k8168227

asked Mar 9 '14 at 18:44

Rahmani

4151415

edited May 1 '14 at 16:48

derobert

77.2k8168227

asked Mar 9 '14 at 18:44

Rahmani

4151415

edited May 1 '14 at 16:48

derobert

77.2k8168227

edited May 1 '14 at 16:48

derobert

77.2k8168227

edited May 1 '14 at 16:48

derobert

77.2k8168227

asked Mar 9 '14 at 18:44

Rahmani

4151415

asked Mar 9 '14 at 18:44

Rahmani

4151415

asked Mar 9 '14 at 18:44

Rahmani

4151415

add a comment |

3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

If you have customized the package/software at all, either by editing the config files directly, or via a GUI, you may want to keep your customizations. Usually in Unix/Linux systems, configurations are saved in text files, even if the configuration/customization is done via the GUI.

Each Debian binary deb package has a list of files which it identifies as config files. dpkg, and thus apt honor this identification when removing packages, and also on upgrades. By default apt/dpkg will not remove config files on package removal. You have to request a purge. On upgrade it will ask you to choose between the current version and the new version (if they differ) before overwriting config files. Even in that case, it saves a copy of the original file. Here Debian is trying to help you, based on the assumption that your config files may contain valuable information.

So, if you have not configured the package, or you don't want to keep your configurations, you can use apt-get purge.

If you do keep the config files, then if/when you reinstall the package, Debian will attempt to reuse the saved configuration information. If the version of the package you are trying to (re)install has config files that conflict with the configuration files that are already installed, it will again ask you before overwriting, as it does on upgrade.

Minor comment: If you have removed the package and later want to remove the config files,it used to be the case that apt would not remove the config files if the package was not installed. However, for some years now, running apt-get purge will remove config files even if the package is no longer installed.

This was fixed in the 0.8.0~pre1 version of apt, released on Fri, 13 Aug 2010, or possibly in the 0.8.15~exp1 version of apt, released Fri, 10 Jun 2011. See Debian Bug Report: apt-get --purge does not work as expected, dated 24th June 2002.

edited 1 hour ago

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:55

Faheem Mitha

23.7k1887139

1

Are these equivalent: apt-get remove --purge APP VS apt-get purge APP?

– mini
Jul 26 '14 at 8:18

1

@mini: Yes. Quote from the apt-get man page, "remove --purge is equivalent to the purge command."

– Faheem Mitha
Jul 26 '14 at 8:39

if you have removed the package and later want to remove the config files, you will need to call dpkg directly, because apt will not remove the config files if the package is no longer installed. Does it mean that apt-get purge will not remove config files after apt-get remove has been executed?

– Anmol Singh Jaggi
Mar 6 '16 at 13:32

@AnmolSinghJaggi This part is actually incorrect and out of date. I meant to change it before. I'm changing it now.

– Faheem Mitha
Mar 6 '16 at 15:10

@FaheemMitha Okay!

– Anmol Singh Jaggi
Mar 6 '16 at 15:14

add a comment |

From the man page of apt-get:

   remove

        remove is identical to install except that packages are removed 

        instead of installed. Note that removing a package leaves its 

        configuration files on the system. If a plus sign is appended to the 

        package name (with no intervening space), the identified package 

        will be installed instead of removed.



   purge

        purge is identical to remove except that packages are removed and 

        purged (any configuration files are deleted too).

I would tend to use purge if you tend to not want to keep any configuration files around.

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:47

slm♦

261k72561707

add a comment |

purge remove configuration files of your packages, but remove keep configuration files of your package.

But advantages or disadvantages: It's related to your system, your packages, your machine, install it or not, and so on.

answered Mar 9 '14 at 20:04

PersianGulf

7,16843663

add a comment |

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3 Answers
3

active

oldest

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3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

So, if you have not configured the package, or you don't want to keep your configurations, you can use apt-get purge.

edited 1 hour ago

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:55

Faheem Mitha

23.7k1887139

1

Are these equivalent: apt-get remove --purge APP VS apt-get purge APP?

– mini
Jul 26 '14 at 8:18

1

@mini: Yes. Quote from the apt-get man page, "remove --purge is equivalent to the purge command."

– Faheem Mitha
Jul 26 '14 at 8:39

if you have removed the package and later want to remove the config files, you will need to call dpkg directly, because apt will not remove the config files if the package is no longer installed. Does it mean that apt-get purge will not remove config files after apt-get remove has been executed?

– Anmol Singh Jaggi
Mar 6 '16 at 13:32

@AnmolSinghJaggi This part is actually incorrect and out of date. I meant to change it before. I'm changing it now.

– Faheem Mitha
Mar 6 '16 at 15:10

@FaheemMitha Okay!

– Anmol Singh Jaggi
Mar 6 '16 at 15:14

add a comment |

So, if you have not configured the package, or you don't want to keep your configurations, you can use apt-get purge.

edited 1 hour ago

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:55

Faheem Mitha

23.7k1887139

1

Are these equivalent: apt-get remove --purge APP VS apt-get purge APP?

– mini
Jul 26 '14 at 8:18

1

@mini: Yes. Quote from the apt-get man page, "remove --purge is equivalent to the purge command."

– Faheem Mitha
Jul 26 '14 at 8:39

if you have removed the package and later want to remove the config files, you will need to call dpkg directly, because apt will not remove the config files if the package is no longer installed. Does it mean that apt-get purge will not remove config files after apt-get remove has been executed?

– Anmol Singh Jaggi
Mar 6 '16 at 13:32

@AnmolSinghJaggi This part is actually incorrect and out of date. I meant to change it before. I'm changing it now.

– Faheem Mitha
Mar 6 '16 at 15:10

@FaheemMitha Okay!

– Anmol Singh Jaggi
Mar 6 '16 at 15:14

add a comment |

So, if you have not configured the package, or you don't want to keep your configurations, you can use apt-get purge.

edited 1 hour ago

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:55

Faheem Mitha

23.7k1887139

So, if you have not configured the package, or you don't want to keep your configurations, you can use apt-get purge.

edited 1 hour ago

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:55

Faheem Mitha

23.7k1887139

edited 1 hour ago

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:55

Faheem Mitha

23.7k1887139

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:55

Faheem Mitha

23.7k1887139

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:55

Faheem Mitha

23.7k1887139

1

Are these equivalent: apt-get remove --purge APP VS apt-get purge APP?

– mini
Jul 26 '14 at 8:18

1

@mini: Yes. Quote from the apt-get man page, "remove --purge is equivalent to the purge command."

– Faheem Mitha
Jul 26 '14 at 8:39

if you have removed the package and later want to remove the config files, you will need to call dpkg directly, because apt will not remove the config files if the package is no longer installed. Does it mean that apt-get purge will not remove config files after apt-get remove has been executed?

– Anmol Singh Jaggi
Mar 6 '16 at 13:32

@AnmolSinghJaggi This part is actually incorrect and out of date. I meant to change it before. I'm changing it now.

– Faheem Mitha
Mar 6 '16 at 15:10

@FaheemMitha Okay!

– Anmol Singh Jaggi
Mar 6 '16 at 15:14

add a comment |

1

Are these equivalent: apt-get remove --purge APP VS apt-get purge APP?

– mini
Jul 26 '14 at 8:18

1

@mini: Yes. Quote from the apt-get man page, "remove --purge is equivalent to the purge command."

– Faheem Mitha
Jul 26 '14 at 8:39

if you have removed the package and later want to remove the config files, you will need to call dpkg directly, because apt will not remove the config files if the package is no longer installed. Does it mean that apt-get purge will not remove config files after apt-get remove has been executed?

– Anmol Singh Jaggi
Mar 6 '16 at 13:32

@AnmolSinghJaggi This part is actually incorrect and out of date. I meant to change it before. I'm changing it now.

– Faheem Mitha
Mar 6 '16 at 15:10

@FaheemMitha Okay!

– Anmol Singh Jaggi
Mar 6 '16 at 15:14

Are these equivalent: apt-get remove --purge APP VS apt-get purge APP?

– mini
Jul 26 '14 at 8:18

@mini: Yes. Quote from the apt-get man page, "remove --purge is equivalent to the purge command."

– Faheem Mitha
Jul 26 '14 at 8:39

if you have removed the package and later want to remove the config files, you will need to call dpkg directly, because apt will not remove the config files if the package is no longer installed.

Does it mean that apt-get purge will not remove config files after apt-get remove has been executed?

– Anmol Singh Jaggi
Mar 6 '16 at 13:32

if you have removed the package and later want to remove the config files, you will need to call dpkg directly, because apt will not remove the config files if the package is no longer installed.

Does it mean that apt-get purge will not remove config files after apt-get remove has been executed?

– Anmol Singh Jaggi
Mar 6 '16 at 13:32

@AnmolSinghJaggi This part is actually incorrect and out of date. I meant to change it before. I'm changing it now.

– Faheem Mitha
Mar 6 '16 at 15:10

@FaheemMitha Okay!

– Anmol Singh Jaggi
Mar 6 '16 at 15:14

add a comment |

From the man page of apt-get:

   remove

        remove is identical to install except that packages are removed 

        instead of installed. Note that removing a package leaves its 

        configuration files on the system. If a plus sign is appended to the 

        package name (with no intervening space), the identified package 

        will be installed instead of removed.



   purge

        purge is identical to remove except that packages are removed and 

        purged (any configuration files are deleted too).

I would tend to use purge if you tend to not want to keep any configuration files around.

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:47

slm♦

261k72561707

add a comment |

From the man page of apt-get:

   remove

        remove is identical to install except that packages are removed 

        instead of installed. Note that removing a package leaves its 

        configuration files on the system. If a plus sign is appended to the 

        package name (with no intervening space), the identified package 

        will be installed instead of removed.



   purge

        purge is identical to remove except that packages are removed and 

        purged (any configuration files are deleted too).

I would tend to use purge if you tend to not want to keep any configuration files around.

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:47

slm♦

261k72561707

add a comment |

From the man page of apt-get:

   remove

        remove is identical to install except that packages are removed 

        instead of installed. Note that removing a package leaves its 

        configuration files on the system. If a plus sign is appended to the 

        package name (with no intervening space), the identified package 

        will be installed instead of removed.



   purge

        purge is identical to remove except that packages are removed and 

        purged (any configuration files are deleted too).

I would tend to use purge if you tend to not want to keep any configuration files around.

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:47

slm♦

261k72561707

From the man page of apt-get:

   remove

        remove is identical to install except that packages are removed 

        instead of installed. Note that removing a package leaves its 

        configuration files on the system. If a plus sign is appended to the 

        package name (with no intervening space), the identified package 

        will be installed instead of removed.



   purge

        purge is identical to remove except that packages are removed and 

        purged (any configuration files are deleted too).

I would tend to use purge if you tend to not want to keep any configuration files around.

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:47

slm♦

261k72561707

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:47

slm♦

261k72561707

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:47

slm♦

261k72561707

answered Mar 9 '14 at 18:47

slm♦

261k72561707

add a comment |

purge remove configuration files of your packages, but remove keep configuration files of your package.

But advantages or disadvantages: It's related to your system, your packages, your machine, install it or not, and so on.

answered Mar 9 '14 at 20:04

PersianGulf

7,16843663

add a comment |

purge remove configuration files of your packages, but remove keep configuration files of your package.

But advantages or disadvantages: It's related to your system, your packages, your machine, install it or not, and so on.

answered Mar 9 '14 at 20:04

PersianGulf

7,16843663

add a comment |

purge remove configuration files of your packages, but remove keep configuration files of your package.

But advantages or disadvantages: It's related to your system, your packages, your machine, install it or not, and so on.

answered Mar 9 '14 at 20:04

PersianGulf

7,16843663

purge remove configuration files of your packages, but remove keep configuration files of your package.

But advantages or disadvantages: It's related to your system, your packages, your machine, install it or not, and so on.

answered Mar 9 '14 at 20:04

PersianGulf

7,16843663

answered Mar 9 '14 at 20:04

PersianGulf

7,16843663

answered Mar 9 '14 at 20:04

PersianGulf

7,16843663

answered Mar 9 '14 at 20:04

PersianGulf

7,16843663

add a comment |

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