aptitude-curses

aptitude-curses

aptitude-curses is the full-screen, text-based interactive user interface for the
aptitude package manager.

It leverages the
ncurses library to provide a graphical, menu-driven environment within a terminal, allowing users to
browse available packages,
search for software, and
mark packages for installation, removal, or upgrade.

One of its key strengths is its
sophisticated dependency resolution capabilities, which can often suggest multiple solutions for dependency conflicts and allow the user to interactively choose the best path forward.

It presents package information, including descriptions, versions, sizes, and dependencies, in an organized layout.
While
aptitude-curses is a standalone executable, it is most commonly invoked by simply running the
aptitude command without any arguments, making it the default interactive mode for
aptitude.

aptitude-curses requires a terminal emulator that fully supports the
ncurses library.
While powerful for interactive use, it is
not suitable for scripting as it's an interactive full-screen application.
For very large package lists or slow terminal connections, its performance might be
slower compared to command-line tools like
apt or
apt-get.
Its extensive features and keybindings can have a
steep learning curve for new users.

Although
aptitude-curses is a standalone executable, it is most commonly launched by simply typing
aptitude in the terminal without any command-line arguments. This default behavior of
aptitude automatically brings up the interactive curses interface.

The interface is highly interactive and driven by keyboard shortcuts.
Common actions include:
+ (mark for installation),
- (mark for removal),
g (go/apply changes),
/ (search),
? (help/keybindings list), and arrow keys for navigation.
Its menu system allows for configuration of display options, fetching changelogs, and managing package states.

The
aptitude package manager was developed as an alternative to
apt-get, aiming to provide a more advanced and robust dependency resolver.
The
ncurses-based interactive interface (
aptitude-curses) was a fundamental component of
aptitude from its early stages, distinguishing it by offering a user-friendly, visual way to manage packages and resolve complex dependency issues.

It gained significant traction within the Debian and Ubuntu communities, particularly for users who preferred a guided, interactive approach to package management over command-line interfaces.
While the
apt command has emerged as the preferred modern high-level command-line interface for many users,
aptitude and its
curses interface remain valuable tools, especially for scenarios requiring intricate dependency analysis or for users who appreciate its comprehensive interactive environment.

aptitude(8), apt(8), apt-get(8), dpkg(1), ncurses(3), aptitude.conf(5)