> /var/lib/dpkg/available is the file that keeps track of all packages currently > available to be installed, based on the package info retrieved by apt-get > update > and your sources.list file. > > /var/lib/dpkg/status is the database file that contains information about the > state of all packages currently install, removed, etc from your system. > > As a side note, never delete the status file by mistake, I did, and now I have > to reinstall my entire system to get things back to normal. If you are going > to > do any manipulation or modification of these files, make SURE you make > backups. I wish I had. >
Is not /var/lib/dpkg/status automatically backed up? [15:15:53 /tmp]$ ls /var/lib/dpkg/status status status.yesterday.1.gz status.yesterday.4.gz status-old status.yesterday.2.gz status.yesterday.5.gz status.yesterday.0 status.yesterday.3.gz status.yesterday.6.gz > Regards, > > Todd > > > > On Sun, 12 Dec 1999, Salman Ahmed wrote: > > What is the difference b/w /var/lib/dpkg/status and > > /var/lib/dpkg/available ? > > > > I am experimenting with a Java application to list/display detailed > > information on all installed packages on a Debian system but can't be > > sure which file to start with - /var/lib/dpkg/status or > > /var/lib/dpkg/available ? > > > > Also, where can I find detailed documentation on the files (and their > > format) in /var/lib/dpkg ? > > > > Thanks. > > > > -- > > Salman Ahmed > > ssahmed AT pathcom DOT com > > > > > > -- > > Unsubscribe? mail -s unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] < /dev/null > > > -- > Unsubscribe? mail -s unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] < /dev/null >
