---
name: "gc_approx"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "approx"
version: "3.3.0"
release: "Debian 5.0 (Lenny)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gc_approx"
---

# gc\_approx(8)

garbage-collect the cache of Debian archive files

## NAME

gc\_approx - garbage-collect the cache of Debian archive files

## SYNOPSIS

**gc\_approx** \[*OPTION*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

**gc\_approx** scans the cache created by [**approx**(8)](/approx/8.md) and finds files that are corrupted or no longer needed. With no options specified, these files are listed on standard output and removed from the cache.

A corrupted file is one whose size or checksum does not match the value specified in the *Packages* or *Sources* file.

An unneeded file is one that is not referenced from any distribution's *Packages* or *Sources* file.

**gc\_approx** may take several minutes to finish.

## OPTIONS

- **-f**, **--fast**

  Don't perform checksum validation.

- **-k**, **--keep**, **-s**, **--simulate**

  Don't remove files from the cache.

- **-q**, **--quiet**

  Don't print file names.

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  Indicate the reason for removal of each file with a prefix character: \`=´ for incorrect size, \`!´ for incorrect checksum, blank for unneeded.

## EXAMPLES

To remove all unneeded or corrupted files from the cache:

-

  gc\_approx --quiet

This is run as a weekly [**cron**(8)](/cron/8.md) job.

To list the files that would be removed from the cache, without actually doing so:

-

  gc\_approx --keep

## FILES

- */etc/approx/approx.conf*

  Configuration file for **approx** and related programs.

- */var/cache/approx*

  Cache directory for archive files.

## SEE ALSO

[*approx.conf*(5)](/approx.conf/5.md), [**approx**(8)](/approx/8.md), [**update\_approx**(8)](/update_approx/8.md), [**cron**(8)](/cron/8.md)

## AUTHOR

Eric Cooper \<ecc@cmu.edu\>