APT 3.1 has just been introduced as the latest evolution of the essential package management tool for Debian-based systems, marking a new milestone following the previous release of APT 3.0 at the beginning of AprilThis new release incorporates improvements that affect both Debian and Ubuntu users, promising more features and greater control over package management from the command line.
With the transition to APT 3.1, Ubuntu has now adopted by default the new package resolver previously introduced in the 3.0 seriesAfter a period of testing and improvements, the developers have determined that the 3.0 solver offers sufficient stability to replace the previous one, which will directly affect the management and resolution of dependencies within the system.
APT 3.1 introduces explanatory commands: "apt why" and "apt why-not
One of the most talked about features of APT 3.1 is the inclusion of subcommands "apt why" and "apt why-not"These new tools allow users to easily investigate the reasons for a particular package decision. Inspired by Aptitude's equivalent utilities, they will display a resolver trace detailing why a specific package is installed, retained, or removed, helping to better understand software management in advanced systems.
Greater control over repositories
Another significant aspect that comes with this version is the possibility of delimiting the packages that will be used from each repository thanks to the new options "Include" and "Exclude"This feature allows you to precisely define which software sources can or cannot be used during installation or upgrade, which is especially useful in environments with multiple sources, versions, or custom repositories.
Additional improvements and expanded support
The development team has also taken advantage of this release to extend support for HTTPS connections In dselect, we've strengthened security in managing package downloads and installations. Additionally, we've fixed some bugs and implemented minor optimizations, resulting in a more fluid and reliable user experience.
APT 3.1 is available on the Debian Experimental Channel, and its gradual arrival is expected in other branches and distributions based on this popular GNU/Linux family. For all the details and news about APT development, please visit the official Debian monitoring website.
This release advances the maturity and versatility of package management on Debian-based systems, offering new tools for both advanced users and those seeking greater control and transparency when installing or updating software on Linux.