How to use the command 'gdebi' (with examples)

The ‘gdebi’ command is a simple tool used to install ‘.deb’ files in Linux-based systems. It facilitates the installation process by automatically resolving and installing any dependencies required by the package. It also provides options to display the program version, suppress progress information, set APT configuration options, and specify an alternative root directory.

Use case 1: Install local ‘.deb’ packages resolving and installing its dependencies

Code:

gdebi path/to/package.deb

Motivation: This use case is helpful when you have a local ‘.deb’ package that you want to install on your Linux system. The ‘gdebi’ command automatically resolves any dependencies required by the package and installs them, ensuring a smooth installation process.

Explanation:

• gdebi: The actual command used to execute ‘gdebi’.
• path/to/package.deb: The path to the ‘.deb’ package file that you want to install.

Example output:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Reading state information... Done
Requires the installation of the following packages: package1, package2
Do you want to install the software package? [y/N]:

Use case 2: Display the program version

Code:

gdebi --version

Motivation: This use case is useful when you need to quickly check the version of the ‘gdebi’ program installed on your system.

Explanation:

• --version: This option is used to display the version information of the ‘gdebi’ program.

Example output:

gdebi 0.9.5.7ubuntu1

Use case 3: Do not show progress information

Code:

gdebi path/to/package.deb --quiet

Motivation: Sometimes, during package installation, you may not want to see the progress information, especially if you are running the installation in the background or in a script. Using the --quiet option suppresses the progress information displayed during installation.

Explanation:

• --quiet: This option is used to suppress the progress information displayed during the installation process.

Example output: No progress information will be displayed during the installation.

Use case 4: Set an APT configuration option

Code:

gdebi path/to/package.deb --option=APT_OPTS

Motivation: Modifying APT configuration options can be useful in various scenarios, such as enabling or disabling certain features or customizing the behavior of the package manager. The --option=APT_OPTS argument allows you to specify the desired APT configuration option.

Explanation:

• --option=APT_OPTS: This option is used to set the specified APT configuration option.

Example output: The chosen APT configuration option will be applied during the installation, but the output will depend on the specific option being set.

Use case 5: Use alternative root directory

Code:

gdebi path/to/package.deb --root=path/to/root_dir

Motivation: When installing a package, you may want to specify an alternative root directory where the package will be installed. This can be useful in situations where you need to manage multiple installations or keep the new installation separate from the system’s root directory.

Explanation:

• --root=path/to/root_dir: This option allows you to specify the path to the alternative root directory where the package will be installed.

Example output: The package will be installed in the specified root directory instead of the default system root directory. The output will depend on the specific package being installed and its installation process.

Conclusion:

The ‘gdebi’ command is a versatile tool that simplifies the installation of ‘.deb’ packages in Linux-based systems. With its ability to resolve and install dependencies, display program versions, suppress progress information, set APT configuration options, and specify alternative root directories, it provides a comprehensive set of features for efficient package management.