This should be required reading if using Debian: https://wiki.debian.org/DontBreakDebian

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I think I have never seen that command before. [ashamed] apt is a command that I consider to be something to do things *only* with advanced details, and this need makes it mostly unuseful for basic and simple "high level" uses, like those I always did with aptitude, synaptic, and packages.debian.org.

For example: to install "package", is fairly common to see the command 'apt-get install package' suggested around the web. But why the command is not 'apt install package'?? My guess is exactly what in the last paragraph: "apt is a command that I consider to be something to do things *only* with advanced details, and this need makes it mostly unuseful for basic and simple "high level" uses".

interesting explanation.

fwiw, apt-get has a similar command - it's actually 'apt-cache search something' - and i'm sure aptitude & synaptic also have it.

the point here is, that there shoudln't be a need to search the debian web pages for a package that should be compatible with your current debian version & package management.

Interesting what you said in #18, ondoho. The existence of these several different commands (apt, apt-get, apt-cache, ...) is confuse. But my problem may have been just a wrongly configured system, as I have to check in what was said before #14.

I prefer to do a package first check in the website because it is faster, and it does not affect any file in my computer (note: no browser history). There is not many details to have restrictions on what can be done - I do not remember ever having one such thing, like a conflict of packages' contents, or other problems.

no it isn't.
not true either.
an apt-cache search is just a search (read-only) of your apt cache.
opening a browser, visiting a web page, perform a search will definitely not only read, but also write files.

btw, this should be phrased better:
the point here is, that there shouldn't be a need to search the debian web pages for a package.
because if that package is to be compatible with your system, your best bet is the data your package management provides.
anything else is just more error-prone.

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