Distinction between apt-cache and dpkg -l












2















I use apt-cache pkgname to retrieve the packages as



me@host:~$ apt-cache pkgnames | wc -l
62803


get 62803 results



but



me@host:~$ dpkg -l | wc -l
2336


What's the reasons which lead such a huge distinction. I presume that dpkg is super than apt.










share|improve this question



























    2















    I use apt-cache pkgname to retrieve the packages as



    me@host:~$ apt-cache pkgnames | wc -l
    62803


    get 62803 results



    but



    me@host:~$ dpkg -l | wc -l
    2336


    What's the reasons which lead such a huge distinction. I presume that dpkg is super than apt.










    share|improve this question

























      2












      2








      2


      1






      I use apt-cache pkgname to retrieve the packages as



      me@host:~$ apt-cache pkgnames | wc -l
      62803


      get 62803 results



      but



      me@host:~$ dpkg -l | wc -l
      2336


      What's the reasons which lead such a huge distinction. I presume that dpkg is super than apt.










      share|improve this question














      I use apt-cache pkgname to retrieve the packages as



      me@host:~$ apt-cache pkgnames | wc -l
      62803


      get 62803 results



      but



      me@host:~$ dpkg -l | wc -l
      2336


      What's the reasons which lead such a huge distinction. I presume that dpkg is super than apt.







      package-management






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked 45 mins ago









      AliceAlice

      443110




      443110






















          1 Answer
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          apt is for managing remote repositories, dpkg - for locally installed packages. They're related. apt is front end to dpkg. When you run apt-get install package it gets .deb file, and installs it via dpkg. So numbers differ because there's a lot of packages available, but only fraction is installed locally on your system.



          apt-cache can show both installed and non-installed packages, because it queries the apt cache - listing of what is available in remote repositories ( that cache is what you get when you do apt-get update). For instance,



          $ apt-cache policy terminator
          terminator:
          Installed: (none)
          Candidate: 1.91-1


          $ dpkg -l terminator
          dpkg-query: no packages found matching terminator





          share|improve this answer

























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            active

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            2














            apt is for managing remote repositories, dpkg - for locally installed packages. They're related. apt is front end to dpkg. When you run apt-get install package it gets .deb file, and installs it via dpkg. So numbers differ because there's a lot of packages available, but only fraction is installed locally on your system.



            apt-cache can show both installed and non-installed packages, because it queries the apt cache - listing of what is available in remote repositories ( that cache is what you get when you do apt-get update). For instance,



            $ apt-cache policy terminator
            terminator:
            Installed: (none)
            Candidate: 1.91-1


            $ dpkg -l terminator
            dpkg-query: no packages found matching terminator





            share|improve this answer






























              2














              apt is for managing remote repositories, dpkg - for locally installed packages. They're related. apt is front end to dpkg. When you run apt-get install package it gets .deb file, and installs it via dpkg. So numbers differ because there's a lot of packages available, but only fraction is installed locally on your system.



              apt-cache can show both installed and non-installed packages, because it queries the apt cache - listing of what is available in remote repositories ( that cache is what you get when you do apt-get update). For instance,



              $ apt-cache policy terminator
              terminator:
              Installed: (none)
              Candidate: 1.91-1


              $ dpkg -l terminator
              dpkg-query: no packages found matching terminator





              share|improve this answer




























                2












                2








                2







                apt is for managing remote repositories, dpkg - for locally installed packages. They're related. apt is front end to dpkg. When you run apt-get install package it gets .deb file, and installs it via dpkg. So numbers differ because there's a lot of packages available, but only fraction is installed locally on your system.



                apt-cache can show both installed and non-installed packages, because it queries the apt cache - listing of what is available in remote repositories ( that cache is what you get when you do apt-get update). For instance,



                $ apt-cache policy terminator
                terminator:
                Installed: (none)
                Candidate: 1.91-1


                $ dpkg -l terminator
                dpkg-query: no packages found matching terminator





                share|improve this answer















                apt is for managing remote repositories, dpkg - for locally installed packages. They're related. apt is front end to dpkg. When you run apt-get install package it gets .deb file, and installs it via dpkg. So numbers differ because there's a lot of packages available, but only fraction is installed locally on your system.



                apt-cache can show both installed and non-installed packages, because it queries the apt cache - listing of what is available in remote repositories ( that cache is what you get when you do apt-get update). For instance,



                $ apt-cache policy terminator
                terminator:
                Installed: (none)
                Candidate: 1.91-1


                $ dpkg -l terminator
                dpkg-query: no packages found matching terminator






                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited 8 mins ago

























                answered 17 mins ago









                Sergiy KolodyazhnyySergiy Kolodyazhnyy

                73.9k9154323




                73.9k9154323






























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