Packages (programs) often require other programs to be installed in order for them to work. These other packages are called dependencies, because the first program depends on them being installed.
When you install a package, the dependencies will also be installed. This process is hidden from you when using the Software Center.
If you would like to know about the dependencies that will be installed, you can use the command line.
For example:
sudo apt-get install gufw
The following extra packages will be installed:
python-netifaces
The following NEW packages will be installed:
gufw python-netifaces
Need to get 482 kB of archives.
After this operation, 2,607 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]
You can then choose to cancel the installation if for some reason you do not wish to install the dependencies.
Other ways to look into the dependencies include:
apt-cache show gufw
Depends: python:any (>= 2.7.1-0ubuntu2), ufw (>= 0.31.1), gir1.2-gtk-3.0, policykit-1, gnome-icon-theme-symbolic, python-netifaces, gir1.2-webkit-3.0
Note that apt-cache
shows all of the dependencies, while apt-get
only shows the dependencies that are not yet installed.
You can also use the Ubuntu package database . See the results page for gufw .
gufw
or not? Have you tried to install something?