1

With Ubuntu (or other versions of linux) is it problematic to use different package managers at the same time? As in, will it cause me grief if I install some programs using apt-get and others using synaptic?

I've been doing this for years without incident, but I'd appreciate some reassurance from someone more knowledgeable than myself.

4
  • 2
    Doesn't Synaptic use apt-get?
    – user25656
    Jun 18, 2013 at 17:09
  • Ah... so what you're both saying is that Ubuntu Software Center and Synaptic are basically graphical front-ends for apt-get? I didn't realize this.
    – dB'
    Jun 18, 2013 at 17:13
  • ... Yes, and apt-get is a front-end to dpkg.
    – ignis
    Jun 18, 2013 at 17:14
  • Ok, cool. That's the info I was looking for. If one of you writes that into an answer, I'll accept it. ;)
    – dB'
    Jun 18, 2013 at 17:16

2 Answers 2

1

My understanding is Synaptic and Ubuntu Software Center use the same underlying commands as apt-get and dpkg to do the actual management and installation. One test is to install a program using one method (say apt-get) and verify that it shows up in Sofware Center and Synaptic database as installed.

In other words, Synaptic and Ubuntu Software Center are graphical front ends for the relevant command line tools.

Using any of these should be fine.

See this forum post for a similar discussion.

0

Most of the graphical tools available on Ubuntu are just front ends for apt (muon, synaptic, aptitude, Ubuntu Software Center,... fall in this category). With those, you will never get problems. However, they cannot run at the same time, because they lock the local apt files - meaning that for example you have to close aptitude in order to run synaptic.

However, it's not impossible to install a completely different package manager like rpm or portage. If more than one package manager is installed, you probably will run into problems if you don't take special precautions, because they don't know about files installed by each other and might overwrite or delete them.

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .