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Basil A
Asked: 2016-04-07 01:27:08 +0800 CST

Bash if condition to check if a ubuntu package needs an upgrade?

  • 772

I need a bash line to check if a ubuntu package needs an upgrade or not.

For example, I want to check if the package 'firefox' needs an upgrade using dpkg or apt-get commands.

Hypthetical Example:

# Hypothetical example pseudo-code
if [[ $(firefox_needs_upgrade) ]]; then echo "Firefox needs upgrading";fi
bash

4 Answers

  1. ##Simulate an upgrade and grep for the firefox package
##Feel free to replace ' firefox' with something more specific

RET=apt-get -s upgrade | grep firefox
if [ $ret -eq 0 ]
then
    echo "I don't have access to a debian box right now"
fi

    From: https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/19470/list-available-updates-but-do-not-install-them

    • 2

  2. You can check version of programs installed under apt with command:

     dpkg -l

    You can check a current package by referencing the Ubuntu Packages Search. Alternatively, for any package under apt (assuming that you have the updates repository enabled), you can use the apt-get command to update your package information and check for upgrades:

     apt-get update
 apt-get dist-upgrade

    If you are not logged in as root (which is generally to be avoided, you may have to use sudo to have sufficient privileges):

     sudo apt-get update
 sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

    Check the apt-get man page for more options.

    Finally, you can search (or subscribe to) Ubuntu security notices to keep yourself notified real-time of needed updates.

    • 0

  3. The command your looking for is apt list --upgradable 2>/dev/null.

    And using it in your example:

    package_name=firefox
if [[ $(apt list --upgradable 2>/dev/null  | grep $package_name) ]]; then echo "${package_name} needs upgrading";fi

    Note: 2>/dev/null is used to suppress the warning message from apt

    • 0

  4. Try to use apticron

    apt-get install apticron

    After installation configure it here:

    /etc/apticron/apticron.conf

    It will give you a daily notification on mail if anything need to be updated.

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