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thinksinbinary
Asked: 2016-08-28 01:33:55 +0800 CST

Why does command apt-cache show result in "E: no packages found"? Ubuntu 16.04

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I don't understand why my apt-cache would be empty, as there is a gazillion packages installed on my system (like all Ubuntu systems). I tried installing a random program and running it thinking that it might just show temporary packages, but got the same result.

apt

1 Answers

  1. The apt-cache show (or apt show) command needs an argument: the name of a package:

    $ apt-cache show gimp
Package: gimp
Priority: optional
Section: universe/graphics
Installed-Size: 16188
Maintainer: Ubuntu Developers <[email protected]>
Original-Maintainer: Ari Pollak <[email protected]>
Architecture: amd64
Version: 2.8.18-1

    ... and many more lines

    Perhaps you want apt list to see available packages or apt list --installed for installed packages?

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