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FOSS Weekly #22.30: Apt Package Management, Atomic Updates in Deepin 23 and More Linux Stuff

This year's 30th edition of It's FOSS Newsletter focuses on apt package management, among other things.

Do you notice something different?

I bet you do.

This is the new format of the It's FOSS weekly newsletter and it even has got a (new) name: FOSS Weekly.

It is part of the It's FOSS News website and you can read it on the website as well. The news website has also got a makeover as it is now using the Ghost framework.

I hope you like it. You can provide me with your feedback by hitting the reply button or leaving a comment.

💬 In this week's issue:

  • apt package management: A whole lot of articles and guides on apt and apt-get commands
  • News round-up: A collection of news related to desktop Linux and applications
  • Linux commands and concepts: Learn the file permissions and related commands
  • And the usual newsletter elements like memes, deals and more

🗞 Linux News Round-up


🗓️
The Debian project turned 29 this week. Ian Murdock established it on August 16, 1993. It's one of the oldest active Linux distributions and a modal example of a successful community-based open source project. More Debian facts here.

🧠 What We’re Thinking About

Are open source users behaving like entitled ones? An interesting opinion piece I came across on the GitLab proposing and then backtracking the deletion of inactive repositories.

Give nothing, expect nothing: GitLab’s the latest punching bag for entitled users: Dissociated Press
What do Docker, GitLab, and Red Hat have in common? Aside from various levels of participation in open source, they’ve all been punching bags over the past few years for non-paying users angr…

🌟 Apt package management

APT is the package management system in Debian, (still in) Ubuntu and many other distributions like Mint, elementary etc. Having a better understanding of its concept will help you in the long run.

You should start with the concept of the package manager first. If you use Ubuntu, get familiar with its repository system.

There are two main commands to interact with APT package management:

  • apt-get is the legacy, low-level command that has been used for years. Learn how to use it.
  • apt is the user-friendly version of apt-get, which is being recommended for the end users. Learn about using it here.

And if you are interested in further reading on the difference between apt and apt-get commands, I have a detailed article on it.

Difference Between apt and apt-get Explained - It’s FOSS
Explaining how apt command is similar yet different than apt-get and why you should be using apt instead of apt-get.

Here are some common and not-so-common usage of these commands for dealing with apt packages:

I have a mini-course on It's FOSS Academy covering the concept of the Ubuntu repository system. Give it a read while I'll work on revamping the Academy website.

On a related note, you'll often see a message that apt-key is deprecated. Here's what you need to know about it.

[Fixed] “apt-key is deprecated. Manage keyring files in trusted.gpg.d”
The apt-key is being deprecated and your system knows that. But do you know what you should be doing for getting packages from external repositories?

🐧 Essential Linux Concepts and Commands

Some of the essential Linux concepts involve:

Here are the commands you use to modify the file properties:


🛠️Application of the Week

Marktext is an Excellent Editor Even for Those Who Don’t Know Markdown - It’s FOSS
I have experimented with a number of markdown editors and there are plenty of good ones there. However, I took an instant liking to Marktext. Here’s why!

🛍️Interesting Deals and Offers

Humble Book Bundle: Cybersecurity & Data Science by Mercury Learning
We’ve teamed up with Mercury Learning for our newest bundle. Get books like Cloud Computing Basics & Cybersecurity: A Self-Teaching Introduction. Plus, pay what you want & support charity!

🤣 Linux Humor

Linux and Open Source Meme

❤ Enjoy this newsletter?

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I would love to hear your feedback on this new format. Hit reply to send me feedback or say hello.

Till next time :)


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