paci

Update the list of available packages and versions (it's recommended to run this before other paci commands)

$ paci refresh

$ paci configure

$ paci search [package]

$ paci install [package]

$ paci update [package]

paci [options] [target(s)]

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

-Q, --query
    Query the local package database. (implied if no other operation is specified)

-S, --sync
    Query the sync (remote) package databases.

-i, --info
    Display detailed information about a package.

-l, --list
    List files owned by a package.

-s, --search
    Search for packages matching the specified .

-f, --file
    Query the package that owns .

-g, --groups
    Query packages which belongs to groups.

-o, --owns
    Query the package that owns .

-m, --maintainer
    Display maintainer information.

-d, --deps
    List package dependencies.

-R, --revdeps
    List packages that depend on the target.

-e, --explicit
    List explicitly installed packages.

-n, --native
    List native packages.

-t, --foreign
    List foreign packages.

-u, --updates
    Check for available package updates.

-w, --whatprovides
    Check what package provides an dependency. (similar to apt-file search)

paci is a command-line utility for querying package databases within the Pacman package manager environment, commonly used in Arch Linux and its derivatives. It provides a powerful and flexible way to search for packages, display detailed information about installed or available packages, list dependencies, check file ownership, and perform various other package-related queries.

paci acts as a front-end to Pacman's database files. It allows users to identify packages based on name, description, maintainer, and other attributes. You can check the version, size, installation date, and dependencies of packages.

It is especially useful for troubleshooting package-related issues, understanding the package ecosystem, and managing software dependencies effectively. Furthermore, it facilitates tasks like identifying orphaned packages or listing packages with specific files installed. It's a key tool for Arch Linux system administrators and advanced users.

paci relies on the Pacman database being up-to-date. Run `sudo pacman -Sy` to synchronize with the remote repositories before querying for remote package information using `paci -S`.

Most paci operations require a target, which specifies the package to be queried or acted upon. The target is usually the package name. For example, `paci -i firefox` displays information about the `firefox` package. Multiple targets can be specified, separated by spaces, such as `paci -i firefox thunderbird`.

paci returns standard Linux return codes to signify success or failure. 0 means successful while anything different from zero reports and error.

paci was created as a wrapper for Pacman operations that are frequently used during software management in Arch Linux. It aims to simplify common tasks and provide more convenient query options. Its development has been driven by the need for a more user-friendly interface for accessing package information compared to using Pacman directly with complex command-line options. It is actively maintained to adapt to changes in Pacman and incorporate new features.

pacman(8)