Guide to Using the `checkupdates-aur` Command (with examples)

The checkupdates-aur command is a useful tool for checking pending updates from the Arch User Repository (AUR). This article will provide various examples of how to use this command in different scenarios.

Example 1: List pending updates for AUR packages

checkupdates-aur

Motivation: This command is used to list any pending updates for AUR packages on your system. It can be helpful to regularly check for updates to ensure your AUR packages are up to date.

Explanation: By simply running the checkupdates-aur command without any arguments, you can easily view a list of pending updates for AUR packages.

Example Output:

firefox 90.0.2-1 -> 91.0-1
spotify 1:1.1.68.632.geb9e2c2d-9 -> 1:1.1.69.612.g5ffabd4d-1

Example 2: List pending updates for AUR packages in debug mode

CHECKUPDATES_DEBUG=1 checkupdates-aur

Motivation: Debug mode can be useful for troubleshooting and gathering additional information about the update process. It can help identify any potential issues or errors.

Explanation: By setting the CHECKUPDATES_DEBUG environment variable to 1 and running the checkupdates-aur command, you can enable debug mode and view detailed information about the update process.

Example Output:

[DEBUG] Loading configuration file '/etc/pacman.conf'
[DEBUG] Reading package lists from 'https://aur.archlinux.org/rpc.php?type=multinfo&arg[]={firefox}&arg[]={spotify}'
[DEBUG] Querying AUR for package 'firefox'
[DEBUG] Querying AUR for package 'spotify'
[DEBUG] Comparing installed version '90.0.2-1' with available version '91.0-1' for package 'firefox'
[DEBUG] Comparing installed version '1:1.1.68.632.geb9e2c2d-9' with available version '1:1.1.69.612.g5ffabd4d-1' for package 'spotify'

Example 3: Display help

checkupdates-aur --help

Motivation: This command is used to display help information about the checkupdates-aur command. It can be helpful to refer to this information when you need assistance with the command’s usage or features.

Explanation: By adding the --help flag to the checkupdates-aur command, you can view a summary of the command’s usage options and available features.

Example Output:

Usage: checkupdates-aur [options]

   Options:
     --help           Display this help information
     --version        Display version information
     --show-skipped   Show skipped packages in the output
     --exclude        Exclude specified packages from the output
     --include        Include only specified packages in the output
     --quiet          Suppress extra information, only print package names
     --debug          Enable debug output