Curiosity about Terminal use... (and Bonus question ;-) about apt-get and aptitude)

Amdx2_x64 · 10-31-2010, 11:23 PM

I have been using Linux for some years. More recently I have been in Linux 95% of the time, 100% from now on since I no longer need Windows for anything.

I love Debian or Debian based distro's. Nothing wrong with others, I just started leaning towards Debian and decided I like it enough to stay.

My question (Curiosity) is this. I noticed the more I use Debian I find it easier to just open the terminal and install/search/etc packages. I find myself using the terminal more lately for other things as well. Anyone else notice the more you use Linux that is seems easier to just open a terminal rather then run a program like Synaptic? Or is it just me.

While I am at it. Is there and real difference with apt-get and aptitude? I seem to be using aptitude most of the time now, but my choice to use it is for no real reason that I am aware of.

mlangdn · 11-01-2010, 01:19 AM

I can't answer your bonus question since i am a Slackware user. That said, I have found myself using the CLI very often. Its easier to pop up a terminal to edit config files for example. There are lots of other uses as well, but this is a biggie. When I need root privileges, the CLI is the only way to go.

Speaking of terminals, here's a nice one I like:

Code:

$ rxvt -bg black -cr green -fg white -C -fn 9x15 -sl 1000 -ls

hilyard · 11-01-2010, 01:24 AM

Have you tried to type in, as root, just

PHP Code:



aptitude

?

It yields an interesting interface more user-friendly than apt-get. I like

PHP Code:



aptitude safe-upgrade

too. And yes, it is just more efficient than Synaptic (which I use only occassionally now).

Best wishes (and thanks for the rep -- just noticed -- re bastille)!

Amdx2_x64 · 11-01-2010, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlangdn

I can't answer your bonus question since i am a Slackware user. That said, I have found myself using the CLI very often. Its easier to pop up a terminal to edit config files for example. There are lots of other uses as well, but this is a biggie. When I need root privileges, the CLI is the only way to go.

Speaking of terminals, here's a nice one I like:

Code:

$ rxvt -bg black -cr green -fg white -C -fn 9x15 -sl 1000 -ls

I noticed that as well. sudo gedit is a great time saver.

I have Gnome terminal set up with a black background/slightly transparent with its own wallpaper with a brighter green font. Gives it that Matrix look, lol.

Amdx2_x64 · 11-01-2010, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hilyard

Have you tried to type in, as root, just

PHP Code:



aptitude

?

It yields an interesting interface more user-friendly than apt-get. I like

PHP Code:



aptitude safe-upgrade

too. And yes, it is just more efficient than Synaptic (which I use only occassionally now).

Best wishes (and thanks for the rep -- just noticed -- re bastille)!

Your welcome on the rep. Forgot why I gave it to you at first, had to check, lol.

It won't let me give you anymore yet but I wanted to with the aptitude info. I never knew it did that. I have been pretty much using it like it was apt-get. Time to read man aptitude I think :-)

(I am now using Debian with sudo so for me it was sudo aptitude. I am seriously turning into an aptitude fan.)

TobiSGD · 11-01-2010, 08:07 AM

There are only minor differences between apt-get and aptitude (besides that UI of sysnaptic, which I never use). For example, if you deinstall a package with aptitude it auto-removes the dependencies, if they are not longer necessary on the system. With apt-get you have to launch the auto-remove manually. I personally prefer apt-get, because I just got used to it.
And yes, you will find out that you will be more and more using the CLI, just because it is easier to do many tasks with it, than with a GUI. I don't even have Synaptic installed on any of my systems. Apt-get, apt-cache and apt-file are simple to use, so I just don't need it.