How to use the command `pacaur` (with examples)

Pacaur is a powerful utility for Arch Linux users that simplifies the process of building and installing packages from the Arch User Repository (AUR). It offers a user-friendly command-line interface to manage both official and AUR packages, streamlining package management by combining functionality typically provided by multiple tools like pacman and yaourt. By making package installation, updates, and management easier, Pacaur helps maintain a well-functioning Arch Linux system.

Synchronize and update all packages (includes AUR)

Code:

pacaur -Syu

Motivation:

Keeping your system’s packages up to date is crucial for ensuring security, gaining access to new features, and maintaining overall system stability. This command synchronizes the package databases and updates all packages, including those from both the official repositories and the AUR, ensuring your system is fully up-to-date.

Explanation:

• -S: This argument tells pacaur to synchronize the package databases with the Arch Linux repositories. It ensures you have the latest package listings.
• -y: This option refreshes the package databases before proceeding. It updates the local database to reflect any changes made in the official and AUR repositories.
• -u: This argument instructs pacaur to upgrade all installed packages to their latest versions, as listed in the recently synchronized database.

Example output:

:: Synchronizing package databases...
 core is up to date
 extra is up to date
 community is up to date
:: Starting full system upgrade...
 resolving dependencies...
 looking for conflicting packages...

Packages (5) example1-1.0-1  example2-2.1-1  example3-3.3-2  exampleAURpkg1-1.0-2  exampleAURpkg2-2.1-3

Total Installed Size:  25.00 MiB
...
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]

Synchronize and update only AUR packages

Code:

pacaur -Syua

Motivation:

Sometimes, you might want to focus exclusively on updating packages that are sourced from the AUR, especially if you’ve recently added new packages there or are aware of specific updates. By narrowing down the search to AUR updates alone, you can avoid the sometimes lengthy process of updating core and community packages.

Explanation:

• -S: Similar to the previous example, this synchronizes the packages.
• -y: Refreshes the package databases.
• -u: Upgrades all installed packages.
• -a: Specifically targets AUR packages, ignoring the core and community repositories for a more focused update.

Example output:

:: Starting AUR upgrade...
 resolving dependencies...
 looking for conflicting packages...

AUR Packages (2) exampleAURpkg1-1.0-3  exampleAURpkg2-2.2-1
...
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]

Install a new package (includes AUR)

Code:

pacaur -S package

Motivation:

Installing new software, whether from the official repositories or the AUR, is a common task for any Arch Linux user. Pacaur simplifies this by handling dependencies and providing the latest version available in the repositories, making software installation a breeze.

Explanation:

• -S: This initiates the installation of the specified package. By invoking this flag, pacaur will search through both the official repositories and the AUR to find the package named “package”.

Example output:

:: Resolving dependencies...
 looking for conflicting packages...

Packages (1) package-1.2-1
...
Do you want to install this package? [Y/n]

Remove a package and its dependencies (includes AUR packages)

Code:

pacaur -Rs package

Motivation:

Removing no longer needed packages is essential for managing disk space and system performance. This command removes the specified package and its dependencies, helping to declutter the system by getting rid of unnecessary software.

Explanation:

• -R: This option removes the specified package from the system.
• -s: This option cascades the removal to include dependencies installed with the package that are no longer required by any other installed package.

Example output:

checking dependencies...
Packages (2) package-1.2-1  dependencyPackage-1.0-1
...
Do you want to remove these packages? [Y/n]

Search the package database for a keyword (includes AUR)

Code:

pacaur -Ss keyword

Motivation:

Searching for packages related to a specific keyword can help users discover new software that meets their needs or find alternatives to currently used packages. This is particularly useful when you’re unsure of the exact package name.

Explanation:

• -S: Synchronizes package databases but here specifically aims to search.
• -s: Instructs pacaur to search the package databases using the keyword you provide. This searches both official and AUR repositories.

Example output:

community/example1 1.0-1
 Description: An example package available in the community repo

aur/example2 2.0-1
 Description: An example package available in the AUR

List all currently installed packages (includes AUR packages)

Code:

pacaur -Qs

Motivation:

Listing installed packages is immensely useful for system audits, diagnostics, or planning upgrades. Knowing exactly what is installed helps you manage system resources effectively and identify software that might need updates or removal.

Explanation:

• -Q: Queries the local package database for information.
• -s: Outputs a list of all installed packages, including those from the AUR.

Example output:

core/package1 1.0-1
community/package2 2.1-3
aur/package3 3.2-5

Conclusion:

Pacaur is a versatile and efficient tool designed for Arch Linux users to manage their packages seamlessly across both official and AUR repositories. With its various commands, you can ensure your system is up-to-date, install new packages, remove unnecessary software, and audit what is currently installed. By streamlining these processes, pacaur helps maintain a robust, secure, and efficient Arch Linux environment.