How to Use the Command 'aurman' (with Examples)
- Linux
- December 17, 2024
Aurman is a versatile utility used in Arch Linux systems for building and installing packages from the Arch User Repository (AUR). This tool helps streamline package management by integrating AUR operations with those of the official repositories. Aurman complements pacman
, the default package manager for Arch Linux, offering additional functionality specific to the AUR. Let’s explore various use cases of Aurman through detailed examples and explanations.
Synchronize and Update All Packages
Code:
aurman --sync --refresh --sysupgrade
Motivation:
This use case is applicable when you want to ensure that your entire system is up-to-date with the latest versions of all installed packages. Regular synchronization and updates help to maintain a healthy system environment and mitigate potential security vulnerabilities.
Explanation:
--sync
: Initiates the synchronization process, aligning the local package database with the remote repositories.--refresh
: Refreshes the local database of packages, ensuring it pulls the latest package versions.--sysupgrade
: Upgrades all the packages to their latest versions available in the repositories.
Example Output:
:: Synchronizing package databases...
core is up to date
extra is up to date
community is up to date
aur is up to date
:: Starting full system upgrade...
there is nothing to do
Synchronize and Update All Packages Without Showing Changes of PKGBUILD
Files
Code:
aurman --sync --refresh --sysupgrade --noedit
Motivation:
You might use this variation when you trust the integrity of the package maintainers and wish to bypass manual review of PKGBUILD
files during updates, saving time in the process.
Explanation:
--noedit
: This flag prevents Aurman from prompting you to editPKGBUILD
files before building packages, thus streamlining the update process.
Example Output:
:: Synchronizing package databases...
core is up to date
extra is up to date
community is up to date
aur is up to date
:: Starting full system upgrade...
there is nothing to do
Install a New Package
Code:
aurman --sync package
Motivation:
Use this command when you need to install a new package onto your system that is not yet present. Installation from repositories or AUR expands the functionalities available on your system by adding new software.
Explanation:
--sync
: Facilitates the installation of the specified package.package
: Replace with the name of the package you want to install.
Example Output:
:: Retrieving package(s) from AUR...
==> Making package: example-package 1.0.0-1 (Thu Oct 19 19:24:15 2023)
==> Checking runtime dependencies...
==> Checking buildtime dependencies...
...
Install a New Package Without Showing Changes of PKGBUILD
Files
Code:
aurman --sync --noedit package
Motivation:
This can be useful when you are confident in the package’s specifications and wish to expedite the installation process without manually verifying the PKGBUILD
file.
Explanation:
--noedit
: Avoids showing thePKGBUILD
file changes for review before proceeding with the build and installation steps.
Example Output:
:: Retrieving package(s) from AUR...
:: Downloading PKGBUILDs and determining dependencies...
==> Making package: example-package 1.0.0-1 (Thu Oct 19 19:27:12 2023)
...
Install a New Package Without Prompting
Code:
aurman --sync --noedit --noconfirm package
Motivation:
This is particularly useful when automation of installations is necessary, such as in scripting scenarios, to reduce interaction and ensure seamless operations.
Explanation:
--noconfirm
: Automatically answers ‘yes’ to all prompts, eliminating the need for user interaction during installation.
Example Output:
:: Retrieving package(s) from AUR...
:: Downloading PKGBUILDs and determining dependencies...
==> Making package: example-package 1.0.0-1 (Thu Oct 19 19:30:45 2023)
...
Search the Package Database for a Keyword from the Official Repositories and AUR
Code:
aurman --sync --search keyword
Motivation:
This command is crucial when you are exploring available packages related to a specific term, allowing you to discover software options and their statuses across the official repository and AUR without having to manually browse through each source.
Explanation:
--search
: Searches both the official repository and AUR for packages matching the given keyword.
Example Output:
community/example-package 1.0.0-1
An example description of the package
aur/example-helper 0.9.5-1 (43)
Another example package from AUR
Remove a Package and Its Dependencies
Code:
aurman --remove --recursive --nosave package
Motivation:
Removing unnecessary packages, along with their dependencies, helps keep the system tidy and free up disk space, optimizing performance and minimizing resource wastage.
Explanation:
--remove
: Initiates the process to remove the package.--recursive
: Ensures that all dependent packages that are not required by other installed packages are removed as well.--nosave
: Does not save the files when removing packages.
Example Output:
checking dependencies...
:: Removing example-package and its dependencies...
Clear the Package Cache
Code:
aurman --sync --clean
Motivation:
Clearing the package cache helps to manage storage space by eliminating old or unnecessary files that accumulate over time during package installations and updates.
Explanation:
--clean
: Cleans out old package versions from the cache, retaining only the most recent packages.
Example Output:
Cleaning package cache...
/var/cache/pacman/pkg/ cleaned
Conclusion:
The Aurman command is an invaluable tool in the Arch Linux environment for managing both official repository packages and those from the AUR. Each use case above highlights different scenarios in which Aurman can be applied to maintain and manipulate system software, from routine updates to specific installations and cache management, demonstrating its flexibility and powerful functionality in system package management.