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

The pkg_info command is used to view information about packages in OpenBSD. It allows users to search for packages using the package name and output a list of installed packages for use with pkg_add -l. It is a useful command for managing packages in OpenBSD.

Use case 1: Search for a package using the package name

Code:

pkg_info -Q package

Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to find information about a specific package in OpenBSD. By specifying the package name with the -Q option, you can retrieve information such as the package name, version, description, maintainer, and other details.

Explanation:

• pkg_info is the command itself.
• -Q is an option that specifies searching for a package by name.
• package is the name of the package you want to search for.

Example output:

Package name: package
Package version: 1.0.0
Package description: This is a sample package.
Package maintainer: example@example.com

Use case 2: Output a list of installed packages for use with pkg_add -l

Code:

pkg_info -mz

Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to obtain a list of the installed packages in OpenBSD for further use with other commands. By using the -m option, you exclude the packages installed as dependencies, and the -z option separates each package name with a null byte for compatibility with the pkg_add -l command.

Explanation:

• pkg_info is the command itself.
• -m is an option that excludes packages installed as dependencies.
• -z is an option that separates each package name with a null byte.

Example output:

package1
package2
package3
...

Conclusion:

The pkg_info command in OpenBSD is a versatile tool for managing packages. Whether you need to search for a specific package or obtain a list of installed packages, pkg_info provides the necessary functionality. By understanding how to use the command with different options, you can effectively manage packages in OpenBSD.