---
name: "auto-apt"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "auto-apt"
version: "0.3.24"
release: "Debian 8 (Jessie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/auto-apt"
---

# auto-apt(1)

on demand package installation tool

## NAME

auto-apt - on demand package installation tool

## SYNOPSIS

**auto-apt** \[*options*\] \[*command*\] \[*args...*\]

## DESCRIPTION

This manual page documents briefly the **auto-apt** commands.

**auto-apt** is a program that checks file access of programs running within **auto-apt** environments.  If a program will access a file of uninstalled package, **auto-apt** will install the package containing the file, by using apt-get.

## OPTIONS

A summary of options is included below.

- **-h**

  Usage.

- **-s**

  No action, perform a simulation of action.

- **-y**

  Automatic yes to prompt.

- **-q**

  Quiet

- **-i**

  Don't install in background process.

- **-x**

  Disable X interface.

- **-X**

  Enable X interface. Run apt-get in another **x-terminal-emulator**  if you run in X environments.

- **-a \[***dist***\[,***dist...***\]\]**

  Select installable distribution from  **main**,**contrib**,**non-free**,**non-US** or **none.** If you set "-a none", it means almost same as "-s".

- **-p \[***hook***\[,***hook...***\]\]**

  Select hook functions from **exec**,**open**,**access**,**stat** or **none** If you set "-p none", it means almost same as "-s".

- **-D \[***dbfile***\]**

  Change *dbfile* from default  **/var/cache/auto-apt/pkgcontents.db**

- **-F \[***filedb***\]**

  Change *filedb* from default **/var/cache/auto-apt/pkgfiles.db,** which is generated by **auto-apt update-local** commands. It is used as default *dbfile* for commands with **-local**  postfix.  In many cases, it is used with  **-L** option to detect file access

- **-L \[***record.lists***\]**

  Append file access data to *record.lists* file.

## COMMANDS

A summary of command is included below.

- **run \[***command***\]**

  Run command controlled by *auto-apt*.  If *command* is not  specified, user's shell will be used.

- **update \[ -a \]**

  Recreate *dbfile* from sources.list information. *dbfile* can be specified by **-D** option. With **-a** option, all files are stored in *dbfile*. Note that *dbfile* become too big with **-a** option.

- **update-local \[ -a \]**

  Generate *filedb* from installed package information.   *filedb* can be specified by **-F** option. With **-a** option, all files are stored in *dbfile*. Note that *dbfile* become too big with **-a** option.

- **merge \[ -a \]**

  Merge package,filename information to *dbfile*, which can be specified by **-D** option. With **-a** option, all files are stored in *dbfile*. Note that *dbfile* become too big with **-a** option.

- **del** *package*

  Delete file information of *package* from *dbfile* database.

- **check** **\[-v\] \[-f\]** *file*

  Check which package provides *file*, from *dbfile* database. options: **-v** means verbose. **-f** uses Contents-\*.gz file instead of *dbfile* database.

- **install** **\[-s\] \[-d\] \[-u\] \[-y\] \[-v\]** *file*

  Try to install a package that provides *file* by using apt-get. You need root privilege to run apt-get install.

- **list \[-v\] \[-f\]**

  List file information in *dbfile* database. options: **-v** means verbose. **-f** uses Contents-\*.gz file instead of *dbfile* database.

- **search** **\[-v\] \[-f\]** *pattern*

  Search file information by  [**grep**(1)](/grep/1.md) *pattern* in *dbfile* database. options: **-v** means verbose. **-f** uses Contents-\*.gz file instead of *dbfile* database.

- **debuild \[***debuildopts***\]**

  Run  [**debuild**(1)](/debuild/1.md) in auto-apt environments, and show **Build-Depends:** estimation. Recommended to use with **-s** option of auto-apt.

- **status**

  Show whether current environment is in **auto-apt** or not.\

## FILES

- o

  /etc/auto-apt/paths.list path lists

- o

  /var/cache/auto-apt cache/database directory

- o

  /etc/auto-apt/sources.list sources.list for auto-apt. if not found, symlink to apt-get's sources.list will be created.

## ENVIRONMENTS

- o

  AUTO\_APT\_CACHEDIR override default cache/database directory

## BUGS

Known bugs. See  **/usr/share/doc/auto-apt/BUGS.** and/or http://bugs.debian.org/auto-apt

## AUTHOR

This program was written by Fumitoshi UKAI \<ukai@debian.or.jp\>, inspired by idea/comments from Debian Guru (debian.gr.jp) and  Project Dice members.