CleanupDebianPackages

The Problem

The number of installed packages tends to grow on a debian system (like with any other distribution and operating system). Packages are installed, dependent packages are installed, too. It becomes difficult to decide, which packages are really wanted.

Some people suggest the usage of aptitude since it keeps the information, if a package was installed on unser request or as a result of a dependency.

Solution

The deborphan tool lists any package that is not required by at least one other package.

So having a private meta package just containing dependencies and running deborphan helps.

Create a meta package (ubuntu-meta is a good start) with a lengthy dependency list. Make that package sticky:

 sudo deborphan -A ms-desasterarea

Search for orphaned packages:

 deborphan -a | sort -k2,2