dpkg

dpkg is the <a href="/facts/Software/RP79lVSW">software</a> at the base of the package management system in the <a href="/facts/Free_software/IaoVtJXn">free</a> operating system <a href="/facts/Debian/cBd93qfJ">Debian</a> and its numerous <a href="/facts/Debian_family/zuxVW7dn">derivatives</a>. dpkg is used to install, remove, and provide information about <a href="/facts/Deb_(file_format)/tTvVkqty">.deb</a> <a href="/facts/Package_(package_management_system)/kEX4kx7g">packages</a>.
dpkg (Debian Package) itself is a low-level tool. <a href="/facts/APT_(Debian)/JQ3yu5G7">APT</a> (Advanced Package Tool), a higher-level tool, is more commonly used than dpkg as it can fetch packages from remote locations and deal with complex package relations, such as dependency resolution. Frontends for APT, like <a href="/facts/Aptitude_(software)/dgcEbmbg">aptitude</a> (<a href="/facts/Ncurses/anPTppfj">ncurses</a>) and <a href="/facts/Synaptic_(software)/3QdFfJxw">synaptic</a> (<a href="/facts/GTK/oLpVm9pp">GTK</a>), are used for their friendlier interfaces.
The Debian package "dpkg" provides the dpkg program, as well as several other programs necessary for run-time functioning of the packaging system, including dpkg-deb, dpkg-split, dpkg-query, dpkg-statoverride, dpkg-divert and dpkg-trigger. It also includes the programs such as update-alternatives and start-stop-daemon. The Debian package "dpkg-dev" includes the numerous build tools described below.

dpkg open-in-new

dpkg