select-default-wordlist

select-default-wordlist

The select-default-wordlist command is a utility provided by the wordlist-tool package, primarily found on Debian and Ubuntu-based Linux distributions. Its main purpose is to simplify the management and selection of the default system-wide wordlist. This wordlist is used by various applications, including spell checkers (like those integrated into web browsers or word processors), password cracking tools, and other utilities that require a standard dictionary or word set.

The command acts as a convenient front-end to the powerful update-alternatives system. Instead of manually configuring symbolic links, select-default-wordlist allows administrators and users to easily choose which installed wordlist (e.g., a small, common list or a large, comprehensive one) should be designated as the system's default, ensuring consistency across applications that rely on the 'wordlist' alternative.

The select-default-wordlist command is specific to Debian and Ubuntu-based Linux distributions and is part of the wordlist-tool package. It is essentially a wrapper script that invokes update-alternatives --config wordlist, meaning its functionality and interactive behavior are entirely dependent on the update-alternatives command. It does not offer non-interactive selection methods directly; for programmatic changes, one should use update-alternatives --set wordlist /path/to/wordlist. As such, it takes no direct command-line parameters or options itself.

When you execute select-default-wordlist, it internally runs the command update-alternatives --config wordlist. This command then presents an interactive menu showing all available wordlists installed on your system that are registered with the 'wordlist' alternative group. You can then select your preferred default by entering its corresponding number. This selection updates the system-wide symbolic link, typically /etc/alternatives/wordlist, to point to the chosen wordlist file (e.g., /usr/share/dict/cracklib-small).

Common wordlists available on Debian/Ubuntu systems include:
cracklib-small: A relatively small and commonly used wordlist.
debian-wordlist: A more comprehensive list maintained by the Debian project.
Other specialized wordlists might be installed by specific packages.

The select-default-wordlist command emerged as part of the wordlist-tool package in Debian-based systems. Its development was driven by the need to standardize and simplify the process of managing various installed wordlists across the system. By leveraging Debian's powerful alternatives system, it provides a consistent interface for users and administrators to choose their preferred default wordlist without manually manipulating symbolic links, thus enhancing usability and maintainability for dictionary-reliant applications.

update-alternatives(8), wordlist(7), dictionaries-common(7)