Package Management

Package managers install software, resolve dependencies, and keep systems updated.

Overview

Packages bundle binaries, configuration, and dependency metadata
Package managers add install, remove, upgrade, and repository workflows
Debian-based systems commonly use dpkg and apt

Reference

Common tools

Command	Purpose
`dpkg`	Install and manage Debian package files
`apt`	High-level package manager for Debian-based systems
`aptitude`	Alternative front end for Debian package management
`snap`	Install and manage snap packages
`gem`	Manage Ruby packages
`pip`	Install Python packages
`git`	Distributed version control and source retrieval

APT

dpkg works with local .deb files
apt handles dependency resolution through repositories
/etc/apt/sources.list defines the repositories a system can query
apt-cache searches the local package cache

apt-cache search impacket

Mental Model

Use dpkg for package files and apt for dependency-aware installs
Repository metadata is as important as the package itself
Package managers trade manual effort for repeatable installation and updates