apt-get, aptitude package version

Question

How can I find out package versions available from repositories?

Answer 1

Use a command like apt-cache show package.

You could also just look at the repository.

• http://www.debian.org/distrib/packages
• http://packages.ubuntu.com/

Answer 2

apt-cache policy $PACKAGE shows every packageversion available for installation.

Answer 3

Try apt-show-versions.

Answer 4

For installed packages:

dpkg-query -l apache2

For packages available via apt:

apt-cache search ^apache2$

Answer 5

Aptitude is Debian's current recommended package manager (see Lenny Release Notes) and amongst other things is great for searching available and installed packages.

e.g.

aptitude search ~npackage_name_regex~dtext_in_description

See section 2.2.6. in the Reference Manual: http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/reference/ch02.en.html#_basic_package_management_operations

However, use 'apt-cache policy' to show package versions.