How to use the command pkginfo (with examples)

The command pkginfo is used to query the package database on a CRUX system. It provides information about installed packages, their versions, the files owned by a package, the owner(s) of files matching a pattern, and the footprint of a file.

Use case 1: List installed packages and their versions

Code:

pkginfo -i

Motivation: By using this command, you can quickly get a list of all the installed packages on your CRUX system along with their corresponding versions. This can be helpful for troubleshooting or checking for updates.

Explanation:

• pkginfo: The command itself.
• -i: This flag is used to list installed packages and their versions.

Example output:

package1 1.0-1
package2 2.3-1
package3 0.5-1
...

Use case 2: List files owned by a package

Code:

pkginfo -l package

Motivation: When you want to know which files are owned by a specific package, you can use this command. This can be useful for identifying the files associated with a package, especially if you want to remove or modify them.

Explanation:

• pkginfo: The command itself.
• -l: This flag is used to list files owned by a package.
• package: The name of the package for which you want to list the owned files.

Example output:

/usr/bin/file1
/usr/lib/lib1.so
/usr/share/file2
...

Use case 3: List the owner(s) of files matching a pattern

Code:

pkginfo -o pattern

Motivation: This command can help you determine which package(s) own certain files that match a specific pattern. This is useful when you need to find out which packages are responsible for certain files, which can aid in troubleshooting or managing dependencies.

Explanation:

• pkginfo: The command itself.
• -o: This flag is used to list the owner(s) of files matching a pattern.
• pattern: The pattern to match against the files.

Example output:

package1
package2
...

Use case 4: Print the footprint of a file

Code:

pkginfo -f path/to/file

Motivation: By using this command, you can obtain the footprint of a specific file. The footprint includes information about the file’s size, permissions, and other attributes. This can be helpful for verifying the integrity of important files or comparing them to backups.

Explanation:

• pkginfo: The command itself.
• -f: This flag is used to print the footprint of a file.
• path/to/file: The path to the file for which you want to obtain the footprint.

Example output:

Size: 235 KB
Permissions: -rw-r--r--
Checksum: 52a1baa23465c892
...

Conclusion:

The pkginfo command provides a convenient way to query the package database on a CRUX system. It allows you to list installed packages and their versions, list files owned by a package, list the owner(s) of files matching a pattern, and print the footprint of a file. Understanding how to use these different use cases can be beneficial for managing packages, troubleshooting issues, and obtaining information about the files on your system.