Interacting with Arch Linux AUR using trizen (with examples)

Synchronize and update all AUR packages

To synchronize and update all packages from the Arch User Repository (AUR), you can use the -Syua flag with the trizen command.

trizen -Syua

Motivation: It is important to regularly update AUR packages to ensure you have the latest versions with bug fixes and security updates.

Explanation:

• -S is used to synchronize packages.
• -y automatically answers yes to any confirmation prompts.
• -u upgrades the outdated packages.
• -a includes all AUR packages in the upgrade process.

Example Output:

:: Synchronizing package databases...
 [Y/n] Y
:: Starting full system upgrade...
 :: Replace avfs? [Y/n] Y
 [...]
 :: Replace zazu-bin with aur/zazu? [Y/n] Y
 :: Replace zfs-utils? [Y/n] Y
 :: Replace zita-alsa-pcmi? [Y/n] Y
 [..]

Install a new package

To install a new package from the AUR, you can use the -S flag followed by the package name with the trizen command.

trizen -S package

Motivation: Installing packages from the AUR allows you to access a wide range of software not available in the official Arch Linux repositories.

Explanation:

• -S is used to install packages.

Example Output:

:: Searching AUR for package 'package'
 :: Package not found.
 :: Searching AUR for package 'package'
 [..]
 :: Proceed with installation? [Y/n] Y
 [..]
 :: Installation complete.

Remove a package and its dependencies

To remove a package and its dependencies, you can use the -Rs flag followed by the package name with the trizen command.

trizen -Rs package

Motivation: Removing unnecessary packages helps keep your system clean and maintainable.

Explanation:

• -R is used to remove packages.
• -s deletes the package and all its dependencies.

Example Output:

:: Checking dependencies...
 [..]
 :: Do you want to remove these packages? [Y/n] Y
 [..]
 :: Removal complete.

Search the package database for a keyword

To search the package database for a keyword, you can use the -Ss flag followed by the keyword with the trizen command.

trizen -Ss keyword

Motivation: Searching for packages by a keyword helps you find specific software based on your requirements.

Explanation:

• -S is used to search for packages.
• -s performs a case-insensitive search for the given keyword.

Example Output:

aur/package 1.0.0-1 (1, 0.12)
    Package description goes here.
aur/package-git r12345.67890-1 (0, 0.00)
    Another package description.
[..]

Show information about a package

To get information about a package, you can use the -Si flag followed by the package name with the trizen command.

trizen -Si package

Motivation: Detailed information about a package helps you understand its functionality, dependencies, and other relevant details.

Explanation:

• -S is used to provide details about a package.
• -i includes package information.

Example Output:

Name            : package
Version         : 1.0.0-1
[..]
Description     : Some package description.
[..]
Upstream URL    : https://example.com/package
Maintainer      : John Doe <johndoe@example.com>

List installed packages and versions

To list all installed packages and their versions, you can use the -Qe flag with the trizen command.

trizen -Qe

Motivation: Having a list of installed packages and their versions helps you keep track of your system’s software state.

Explanation:

• -Q is used to query the package database.
• -e lists explicitly installed packages.

Example Output:

package1 1.0.0-1
package2 2.1.2-3
[..]