# Administrating system-wide Debian packages


## Tools

  * apt - for interactive simple command-line tasks
  * apt-get - for scripted tasks
  * aptitude - for fullscreen browsing and complex tasks


## System upgrade

Make sure your current system is up-to-date:

  * Check /etc/apt/sources.list* files that only current release is used.
  * Update and upgrade:

	apt update; apt upgrade

Make sure that all auto-installed packages are marked as such:

  * Start aptitude in fullscreen mode:

	aptitude -u

  * Check each installed package: Flag as auto-installed as appropriate
  * Remove no longer used packages as needed (press "g" twice).

Double-check packages unneeded for or alien to current release:

  * Compute package lists:

	localbackuppkglists

  * locate and inspect aliens and explicits below /etc/*/localpkglists.*