aptitude-curses

aptitude [options] [packages...]

-h, --help
    Show help message and exit.

-v, --version
    Show program version and exit.

install
    Install the specified packages.

remove
    Remove the specified packages.

purge
    Remove the specified packages and their configuration files.

update
    Update the list of available packages.

upgrade
    Upgrade installed packages to the newest version.

safe-upgrade
    Upgrade installed packages to the newest version, avoiding removal of currently installed packages.

full-upgrade
    Upgrade installed packages to the newest version, possibly removing currently installed packages if necessary to resolve dependencies.

hold
    Place a hold on specified packages to prevent upgrades.

unhold
    Remove the hold on specified packages, allowing upgrades.

search
    Search for packages matching the specified pattern.

show
    Display detailed information about a specific package.

aptitude is a text-based interface to the Advanced Packaging Tool (APT) system. It allows users to browse the list of available packages, install, remove, and upgrade packages, and resolve dependencies. Unlike the command-line `apt` or `apt-get`, aptitude provides a full-screen interactive interface using the curses library. This interface helps make dependency resolution easier and provides more information about package status and changes. It supports features like holding packages, resolving broken dependencies automatically, and viewing package change logs. Aptitude also remembers the actions performed, allowing users to easily revert changes if necessary.
It's a powerful tool for managing software on Debian-based systems, providing a more user-friendly experience than command-line alternatives, especially for users who prefer visual interfaces. Its ncurses interface allows it to run over SSH without X server forwarding.

Aptitude must be run with root privileges to perform package management tasks.

The curses-based interface provides a visual representation of package dependencies and allows for easier browsing of available packages and their descriptions. This can be helpful for users who prefer to manage packages without using command-line arguments.

Aptitude features a powerful dependency resolver that attempts to automatically fix broken dependencies and find optimal solutions when installing or removing packages. It can handle complex dependency conflicts more effectively than some other package managers.

Aptitude keeps logs of package installations, removals, and upgrades that are easily viewable through the menu interface. This helps keep track of all the operations performed over a period of time.

aptitude was first developed in 1999 as a front-end for APT, aiming to improve upon the user experience offered by `apt-get`. It was designed to handle complex dependency resolution more gracefully and provide a more interactive interface. Over time, aptitude has become a popular choice for users who prefer a ncurses interface, and it continues to be actively maintained as part of the Debian project.
Initially meant to complement apt-get, it has gained features not available in the other package managers.

apt(8), apt-get(8), dpkg(1)