pacman-database

Mark a package as implicitly installed

$ sudo pacman -D --asdeps [package]

$ sudo pacman -D --asexplicit [package]

$ pacman -Dk

$ pacman -Dkk

$ pacman -Dkq

$ pacman -Dh

pacman-db-upgrade [options]

-h, --help
    Displays a short help message and exits.

-r , --root
    Specifies an alternative installation root path for database operations. This is useful for chroot environments or managing multiple system installations.

pacman-db-upgrade is a utility designed to upgrade the format of the local package database used by pacman, the package manager for Arch Linux and its derivatives. This tool becomes essential when pacman undergoes significant updates that introduce backward-incompatible changes to its internal database structure. Instead of simply updating packages, this command specifically ensures that the metadata pacman stores about installed packages (such as file lists, dependencies, and versions) is compatible with the latest pacman version.

In most cases, users will not need to execute pacman-db-upgrade manually. The pacman utility itself, or the underlying libalpm library (Arch Linux Package Management library), typically detects when a database format upgrade is necessary and automatically executes this tool during a system upgrade. Manual intervention might only be required in rare scenarios, such as after a partial upgrade or if pacman prompts the user to do so due to a database integrity issue. Its primary role is to maintain the integrity and compatibility of the local package database with the evolving pacman package manager.

pacman-db-upgrade is almost exclusively managed automatically by pacman itself. Users typically do not need to run this command manually. Running it unnecessarily will usually have no effect or prompt that no upgrade is needed. Manual execution should only be considered if pacman explicitly recommends it or if you are encountering database-related errors following a pacman update. Incorrect manual use or running it in an unstable system state could potentially lead to database corruption, though the tool is generally robust.

pacman-db-upgrade is generally executed automatically by pacman or libalpm (the Arch Linux Package Management library) whenever a database format upgrade is detected as necessary during a standard pacman -Syu system update. This ensures database compatibility without requiring user intervention.

The local package database, which pacman-db-upgrade operates on, is typically located at /var/lib/pacman/local/. This directory contains subdirectories for each installed package, storing metadata such as file lists, dependencies, and versions for that package.

pacman-db-upgrade emerged as a necessity alongside significant architectural shifts within pacman itself, particularly when major changes to its underlying database format were introduced. A notable instance was the transition from pacman's version 3 database format to the version 4 format, which brought about improvements in efficiency and flexibility. This command was developed to facilitate a smooth, automatic migration of existing local package databases to the new structure, ensuring backward compatibility for users while allowing pacman's core functionalities to evolve. Its existence is inherently tied to the progressive development of the pacman project, addressing the challenges of maintaining database integrity across different software versions.

pacman(8), pacman-conf(5), pacman-key(8)