Apt, which was introduced from Ubuntu 16.04, is a newer package management and update tool, faster and easier to use than Apt-get. Apt was designed to replace Apt-get, but Apt-get is still kept to support users using the older commands. Here, ArrivedDEV will clearly explain and provide some specific examples of the differences between Apt and Apt-get.

The difference between apt and apt-get:

apt and apt-get are both package management tools for Debian-based operating systems, however there are a few main differences between these two tools:

1. History:

apt-get: Was the default package management tool in older versions of Debian and Ubuntu.
apt: Is the newer and more modern default package management tool, gradually replacing apt-get in newer versions of Debian and Ubuntu.

2. Features:

– apt: Provides more features than apt-get, including:

Support for multiple repositories simultaneously.
Better dependency conflict resolution.
More efficient package download and installation.
More detailed progress display.

– apt-get: Provides basic functionality for installing, removing, and updating packages.

3. Structure:

apt: Uses a library-based structure, making it more flexible and extensible.
apt-get: Uses a simpler monolithic structure.

4. Speed:

apt: Is generally considered faster than apt-get.

Comparing the Capabilities of apt and apt-get

apt is a more modern package management tool that provides many features that apt-get lacks, including:

1. Multi-repository Support:

apt can manage multiple repositories simultaneously, allowing you to easily find and install software from various sources.
apt-get can only work with one repository at a time.

2. Better Dependency Conflict Resolution:

apt uses advanced algorithms to resolve dependency conflicts, helping ensure your system remains stable after installing or removing software.
apt-get may struggle with resolving complex dependency conflicts, leading to system errors.

3. More Efficient Package Download and Installation:

apt uses parallel downloading and data compression techniques to speed up package download and installation.
apt-get is slower than apt and does not utilize data compression techniques.

4. More Detailed Progress Display:

apt provides detailed information about the package download, installation, and removal process, allowing you to easily monitor its activity.
apt-get displays less detailed information than apt, making it harder to track the process.

5. Advanced Feature Support:

apt supports advanced features like pre-installing packages, simulating installs and removals, and managing package versions.
apt-get does not support these advanced features.

Real-world Examples of APT vs APT-GET

To install Wine 32-bit on a 64-bit system, it requires many other 32-bit dependency packages.

apt-get may fail to resolve the conflicts with the missing 32-bit packages and fail to install.
APT will automatically enable the 32-bit repository, download and install all required 32-bit dependencies, and then successfully install Wine 32-bit.

Thanks to its more advanced ability to analyze and resolve complex dependency trees, APT simplifies cross-platform installation and ensures system stability.

Note: apt-get is still available in Debian and Ubuntu versions, but it is not recommended for new usage. You can refer to the official documentation for apt here: https://wiki.debian.org/DebianPackageManagement

Should you use APT or APT-GET?

Overall, apt is a more powerful and flexible package management tool than apt-get. It provides more features, is more efficient, and easier to use. Therefore, it is recommended to use apt instead of apt-get for package management tasks on Debian-based operating systems.

Apt vs Apt-get Command: What’s the Difference on Linux?