Master Linux Package Management: yum, apt, dpkg, and Source Compilation

yum (RPM‑based distributions)

Update repository cache : sudo yum clean all && sudo yum makecache Install a package : sudo yum install <package_name>[-<version>] Upgrade a package : sudo yum upgrade <package_name> (upgrade all: sudo yum update)

Remove a package : sudo yum remove <package_name> Downgrade a package : sudo yum downgrade <package_name>-<version> Search for a package : yum search <package_name> List installed packages : yum list installed [<package_name>] Show available versions : yum list <package_name> --showduplicates Lock a version : sudo yum versionlock add <package_name>[-version] Unlock a version : sudo yum versionlock delete <package_name> Clear all locks : sudo yum versionlock clear List locked packages : yum versionlock list Tip: To use version locking, install the plugin first: sudo yum install yum-plugin-versionlock.

apt / apt‑get (Debian‑based distributions)

Edit sources : sudo apt edit-sources [<source_name>] Update repository cache : sudo apt update or sudo apt‑get update Install a package : sudo apt install <package_name>[=<version>] Upgrade a package : sudo apt upgrade <package_name> Remove a package : sudo apt remove <package_name> Purge configuration files : sudo apt purge <package_name> List installed packages : apt list [<package_name>] -i Search for a package : apt‑cache search <package_name> --names-only Show package details : apt‑cache show <package_name> Fix broken dependencies : sudo apt‑get -f install Auto‑remove unused dependencies : sudo apt‑get autoremove Show version policy : apt‑cache policy <package_name> List all available versions : apt list <package_name> -a or apt‑cache madison <package_name> Hold a package (lock version) : sudo apt‑mark hold <package_name> Unhold a package (unlock) : sudo apt‑mark unhold <package_name> Show held packages :

apt‑mark showhold

dpkg / rpm (low‑level package tools)

Install : sudo dpkg -i <deb_name> [--force-depends] or sudo rpm -ivh <rpm_name> Upgrade : sudo rpm -Uvh <rpm_name> Remove : sudo dpkg -r <deb_name> or sudo rpm -e [--nodeps] <rpm_name> Purge (dpkg only) : sudo dpkg -P --purge <deb_name> List installed packages : dpkg -l <deb_name> or rpm -qa <rpm_name> Show package information : dpkg -s <deb_name> or rpm -qi <rpm_name> List package contents : dpkg -L <deb_name> or rpm -ql <rpm_name> Find owning package of a file : dpkg -S <file_name> or

rpm -qf <file_name>

Compiling and Installing from Source (example: Nginx)

Obtain the source archive

wget https://nginx.org/download/nginx-1.24.0.tar.gz
tar -xzvf nginx-1.24.0.tar.gz
cd nginx-1.24.0

Install build dependencies sudo yum install pcre-devel zlib-devel Configure, compile, and install

./configure --prefix=/usr/local/nginx   # add other options as needed
make
sudo make install

Verify installation

/usr/local/nginx/sbin/nginx -version
sudo /usr/local/nginx/sbin/nginx   # start
sudo /usr/local/nginx/sbin/nginx -s stop   # stop

Optional: create a symlink for easier use

echo $PATH   # ensure /usr/local/nginx/sbin is in PATH or create a link
sudo ln -s /usr/local/nginx/sbin/nginx /usr/sbin/nginx
nginx -version   # test the symlink
sudo nginx   # start via symlink
sudo nginx -s stop

Uninstall

# Remove the symlink
sudo rm -f /usr/sbin/nginx
# Delete the installation directory
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/nginx
# If the source provides a make uninstall target
sudo make uninstall

Note: Because the software was installed outside a package manager, manual removal of files is required. Deleting the --prefix directory is sufficient if that option was used.

Conclusion

Convenience : apt‑get offers the highest convenience (automatic dependency resolution), followed by yum, with source compilation being the least convenient because dependencies must be handled manually.

Customizability : Compiling from source provides the greatest flexibility (custom configure options), while apt‑get uses mostly default settings.

Required privileges : Source compilation can be performed with minimal privileges, yum requires elevated rights, and apt‑get typically needs root access; in environments without root, source compilation is the viable option.