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Janek Rezner
Janek Rezner
12,973 Points
Posted by Janek Rezner
Janek Rezner
12,973 Points

Which command will update the software you have installed to the latest version?

in Console Foundations -> stage 5 (installing software) video Jim runs $ sudo apt-get update to check for updates

but the correct answer to the question above in the following quiz section is $sudo apt-get upgrade...

can anyone explain this?

2 Answers

Kevin Kenger
Kevin Kenger
32,834 Points
Kevin Kenger
Kevin Kenger
32,834 Points

Hey Yann,

apt-get update doesn't install or upgrade software, it simply displays packages that are available to download. apt-get upgrade however, will install newer versions of packages that you already have. In order for the package manager to be aware of available upgrades, you have to update the list. That's why we run both, apt-get update first, and then apt-get upgrade. I hope that helps!

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points
James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

You'll usually want to do apt-get update && apt-get upgrade so that you first get an updated list of packages and then you upgrade all of your installed packages.

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points
James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

They are 2 different things.

  • apt-get update updates the list of available packages and their versions, but it does not install or upgrade any packages.
  • apt-get upgrade actually installs newer versions of the packages you have. After updating the lists, the package manager knows about available updates for the software you have installed.

source: http://askubuntu.com/a/94104