Post #3522785
2026-07-01 11:29 UTC
(Not a rant.)
Now that I've gathered all the Linux nerds (and probably infuriated most of you), I have a question.
20+ years ago, I learned to type "apt-get install $package" instead of "apt install". Likewise, I've always used "apt-get dist-upgrade" instead of "apt upgrade". I learned those were better, but I've forgotten why if I ever knew.
Is apt-get install better than apt install?
Was it once?
How?
Same three questions for apt-get dist-upgrade.
Thanks!
12/N
#Debian #CompuArchaeology
Replies (1)
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@ewenmcneill@cloudisland.nz 2026-07-02 00:13
@kbob@chaos.social ~20 years ago there wasn’t an “apt” command line tool, just “apt-get” and a promise that an “apt” tool would come “eventually”. I too learned to type “apt-get” and do that to this day. The (~10 year old) “apt” tool is a reimplementation and does have some better dependency resolution algorithms, so is probably best for tracking unstable or doing major version upgrades. But for day to day usage on “stable”, with few package changes, “apt-get” and “apt” are workalike tools.