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Re: How to >>COMPLETELY<< remove an application?

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On 03/08/2017 11:34 AM, Richard Owlet wrote:
> On 03/08/2017 12:32 PM, Cindy-Sue Causey wrote:
>> On 3/8/17, Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> wrote:
>>> I recently installed grml-debootstrap from a purchased DVD set of
>>> Jessie(8.6.0). I have minimal available bandwidth so I install strictly
>>> from DVDs.
>>>
>>> I have discovered a potential bug for my specific use case and believe
>>> I've narrowed the problem source to two specific files.
>>>
>>> I have used script to record some of my test runs after I had edited the
>>> files in question.
>>>
>>> I wanted to record a test run duplicating the as originally installed
>>> environment. I used Synaptic to remove the package - choosing the "Mark
>>> for complete removal" option. It notified me that it would remove
>>> configuration files which was why I chose that option.
>>>
>>> I reinstalled grml-debootstrap from the same DVD set. I did a dry run
>>> and got a quite different set of errors.
>>>
>>> IIRC I've seen discussions about removing EVERYTHING related to a
>>> package. I don't recall the details.
>>>
>>> What is the most effective way to completely remove an application?
>>>
>>> If all else fails, I can reinstall Debian completely to a new partition.
>>> But I'd like to use this as an "educational" experience.
>>
>>
>> I use both "apt-get autoremove" and "apt-get purge" for package
>> removal. Purge is the one that FEELS LIKE it zaps everything,
>> configuration files and all, but I've never gone about it
>> scientifically to verify yay or nay for fact.
>>
>>> From "man apt-get":
>>
>> +++++++++
>>
>> remove
>>            remove is identical to install except that packages are
>> removed
>>            instead of installed. Note that removing a package leaves its
>>            configuration files on the system. If a plus sign is
>> appended to
>>            the package name (with no intervening space), the identified
>>            package will be installed instead of removed.
>>
>> purge
>>            purge is identical to remove except that packages are
>> removed and
>>            purged (any configuration files are deleted too).
>>
>> +++++++++
>>
>> Ohhhh, and I learned something new today:
>>
>> +++++++++
>>
>> autoremove (and the auto-remove alias since 1.1)
>>            autoremove is used to remove packages that were automatically
>>            installed to satisfy dependencies for other packages and
>> are now no
>>            longer needed.
>>
>> +++++++++
>>
>> I did not know that. I knew there was "remove" and "autoremove" but
>> had never pursued *why*. I started using "autoremove" after I kept
>> seeing apt-get proffer it.... for removal of packages that are no
>> longer dependencies for anything. So from now on... my opening
>> statement will be that I use "apt-get remove" and "apt-get purge".
>> *grin*
>>
>> Do Synaptic, Aptitude, and possibly anything else of that family have
>> similarly close but still different flags/commands?
>>
>> Cindy :)
>>
>
> You got me looking at man-apt get.
> It reminded me that I should clean my cache between test runs from a
> repeatability perspective. It might explain some warning [rather than
> error] messages I've gotten. I'm doing peculiar things, why shouldn't I
> get peculiar messages.

Hi Richard,

First, unless you are using something older than Jessie you can use apt 
as in #apt update or #apt purge, apt-get is no longer needed.

Second, there is a command line package named "upgrade-system" that uses 
apt and deborphan, it will update, upgrade, autoremove and check for 
orphaned packages with the one command. On a Stable system let 
'upgrade-system' have it's way, it's safe and will remove your crud, but 
on testing and Sid check what packages it's going to remove just like 
you would with any other package manager and if your not sure use 
'gtkorphan' so you can see what you're doing.

So you could #apt purge 'package name' && upgrade-system
All done.

regards,
-- 
Jimmy Johnson

Ubuntu 14.04 - KDE 4.13.3 - EXT4 at sda5
Registered Linux User #380263

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Thread

How to >>COMPLETELY<< remove an application? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2017-03-08 19:10 +0100
  Re: How to >>COMPLETELY<< remove an application? Frank <zuiderduin@gmx.com> - 2017-03-08 19:30 +0100
    Re: How to >>COMPLETELY<< remove an application? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2017-03-08 20:20 +0100
  Re: How to >>COMPLETELY<< remove an application? Cindy-Sue Causey <butterflybytes@gmail.com> - 2017-03-08 19:40 +0100
    Re: How to >>COMPLETELY<< remove an application? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2017-03-08 20:40 +0100
      Re: How to >>COMPLETELY<< remove an application? Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-03-08 21:50 +0100
      Re: How to >>COMPLETELY<< remove an application? Jimmy Johnson <field.engineer@gmail.com> - 2017-03-09 00:00 +0100
        Re: How to >>COMPLETELY<< remove an application? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2017-03-09 07:20 +0100
        Re: How to >>COMPLETELY<< remove an application? Marc Shapiro <marcnshap@gmail.com> - 2017-03-09 08:50 +0100
    Re: How to >>COMPLETELY<< remove an application? Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2017-03-09 11:10 +0100
      Re: How to >>COMPLETELY<< remove an application? Hans <hans.ullrich@loop.de> - 2017-03-09 12:10 +0100
    Re: How to >>COMPLETELY<< remove an application? Harry Putnam <reader@newsguy.com> - 2017-03-11 13:10 +0100
      Re: How to >>COMPLETELY<< remove an application? Jörg-Volker Peetz <jvpeetz@web.de> - 2017-03-11 14:20 +0100

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