aptitude:tldr:ce170

aptitude: Synchronize list of packages and versions available. This should be run first, before running subsequent aptitude commands.

aptitude

$ aptitude update

try on your machine

The aptitude update command is used in Debian-based operating systems, such as Ubuntu, to update the package lists for available software packages from the configured software repositories.

When you run aptitude update, it contacts the repositories specified in the /etc/apt/sources.list file, as well as any additional repository files in the /etc/apt/sources.list.d directory, and checks if there are any updates or new packages available. It retrieves the latest information about the packages, their versions, dependencies, and any other relevant data.

By running aptitude update regularly, you ensure that your system has the most up-to-date information about available software packages. This is essential before performing system upgrades or package installations, as it ensures you are working with the latest software versions and security updates. After running aptitude update, you can use aptitude upgrade or aptitude dist-upgrade to actually upgrade the installed packages to their latest versions.

This explanation was created by an AI. In most cases those are correct. But please always be careful and never run a command you are not sure if it is safe.

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