update-default-wordlist

update-default-wordlist [--quiet] [--force] [--verbose] [--list]
update-default-wordlist --install wordlist_name path priority
update-default-wordlist --remove wordlist_name path

--quiet
    Suppress all informational output from the command.

--force
    Force the update of the default wordlist symlink, even if no changes are detected or required by the system.

--verbose
    Display more detailed information about the actions being performed, including debugging output.

--list
    Show the currently selected wordlist that the /etc/dictionaries/words symlink points to, along with available alternatives.

--install wordlist_name path priority
    Used by package maintainer scripts to register a new wordlist with the alternatives system. wordlist_name is a unique identifier (e.g., "wamerican"), path is the full path to the wordlist file, and priority is an integer where higher values indicate preference.

--remove wordlist_name path
    Used by package maintainer scripts to unregister an existing wordlist from the alternatives system. wordlist_name and path must match the values used during installation.

update-default-wordlist is a utility script designed to manage the default system wordlist. It primarily maintains the symbolic link /etc/dictionaries/words, ensuring it points to the preferred dictionary file on the system. This symlink is crucial for various applications, especially spell checkers and linguistic tools, which rely on a standardized path to locate the default wordlist. Internally, this command leverages the update-alternatives(8) system to register, manage, and select among multiple available wordlist options provided by different packages (e.g., wamerican, wbritish). While users can query or force an update, the installation and removal of wordlist options are typically handled automatically by package maintainer scripts during package installation or removal, ensuring seamless integration and management of system-wide dictionaries.

This command primarily acts as a front-end to update-alternatives(8) for managing the wordlist alternative group. Direct user interaction with the --install and --remove options is generally discouraged, as these are intended for use by package maintainer scripts. Misuse of these options can disrupt the proper management of system wordlists.

The /etc/dictionaries/words symlink is managed by update-alternatives(8). When multiple wordlists are installed, update-alternatives selects the one with the highest priority by default, or it allows the system administrator to manually choose using `update-alternatives --config wordlist`. This ensures that applications consistently find a default dictionary.

The update-default-wordlist script, along with the /etc/dictionaries/words symlink, is a component of the wordlist-preprocessor package in Debian and its derivatives (like Ubuntu). It was introduced to standardize the way applications access system-wide wordlists and to provide a robust mechanism for users and packages to select and manage the default dictionary, enhancing system consistency and maintainability.

update-alternatives(8), wordlist-preprocessor(7)