A toolkit for packages
which-pkg-broke
The which-pkg-broke
command displays all the dependencies for a package and when each was installed. This information can take a few seconds to retrieve and quickly fills several screens with its output, so you might want to pipe the command through less
.
In theory, you can then identify which packages might be causing problems by correlating when installation problems began with which packages were installed around that time (Figure 10). In practice, however, this command has only limited usefulness, because not all packages record their installation time.

Hands-On Administration
Like dpkg-reconfigure [3], the scripts in the Debian Goodies collection are part of the unique technology that Debian has built during the past two decades. This technology has been passed along, mostly unchanged, to its derivatives – even those that emphasize the desktop rather than the command line.
The opportunities that this technology offers can be overwhelming; however, it provides a hands-on approach to administering your system that few other Linux alternatives can match.
Take the time now to learn what Debian Goodies offers, making mental notes about the scripts you imagine you are most likely to use. Then, whether you are troubleshooting your system or simply curious about different aspects of your system, you will know what resources are available to you.
Infos
- Debian Goodies: http://packages.debian.org/sid/debian-goodies
- Debian Popularity Contest: http://popcon.debian.org/
- "Command Line: dpkg-reconfigure" by Bruce Byfield, Linux Pro Magazine, October 2013, pg. 76
« Previous 1 2 3 4
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you've found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora 39 Beta is Now Available for Testing
For fans and users of Fedora Linux, the first beta of release 39 is now available, which is a minor upgrade but does include GNOME 45.
-
Fedora Linux 40 to Drop X11 for KDE Plasma
When Fedora 40 arrives in 2024, there will be a few big changes coming, especially for the KDE Plasma option.
-
Real-Time Ubuntu Available in AWS Marketplace
Anyone looking for a Linux distribution for real-time processing could do a whole lot worse than Real-Time Ubuntu.
-
KSMBD Finally Reaches a Stable State
For those who've been looking forward to the first release of KSMBD, after two years it's no longer considered experimental.
-
Nitrux 3.0.0 Has Been Released
The latest version of Nitrux brings plenty of innovation and fresh apps to the table.
-
Linux From Scratch 12.0 Now Available
If you're looking to roll your own Linux distribution, the latest version of Linux From Scratch is now available with plenty of updates.
-
Linux Kernel 6.5 Has Been Released
The newest Linux kernel, version 6.5, now includes initial support for two very exciting features.
-
UbuntuDDE 23.04 Now Available
A new version of the UbuntuDDE remix has finally arrived with all the updates from the Deepin desktop and everything that comes with the Ubuntu 23.04 base.
-
Star Labs Reveals a New Surface-Like Linux Tablet
If you've ever wanted a tablet that rivals the MS Surface, you're in luck as Star Labs has created such a device.
-
SUSE Going Private (Again)
The company behind SUSE Linux Enterprise, Rancher, and NeuVector recently announced that Marcel LUX III SARL (Marcel), its majority shareholder, intends to delist it from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by way of a merger.