deborphan finds packages that have no packages depending on them. The default operation
is to search only within the libs and oldlibs sections to hunt down unused
libraries.
If it is invoked with an optional list of packages, only the dependencies on
those packages will be checked. The results are printed to stdout as if
the option --show-deps had been given. Searching for specific packages
will show the package, regardless of its priority. It is possible to specify
-, to read a list of packages from standard input.
OPTIONS
-h, --help
Display a short help message and exit.
-v, --version
Display version information and exit.
-f, --status-file=FILE
Use FILE as the status file.
"OUTPUT MODIFIERS"
-d, --show-deps
Show a list of packages that are not orphaned and name the packages that
depend on them.
-P, --show-priority
Show the priority of the packages found.
-z, --show-size
Show the installed size of the packages found.
-s, --show-section
Show the sections the packages are in.
--no-show-section
Override showing sections when the default is to show them (see --all-packages).
"SEARCH MODIFIERS"
-n, --nice-mode
Turn off nice-mode.
Nice-mode checks if there is a package `suggesting' or `recommending' the package.
If one is found, the package will be marked as in use, or, when --show-deps is used, print out the package suggesting the package as if it were depending on it.
-a, --all-packages
Check all the packages, instead of only those in the libs section. Best used (if at all used) in combination with --priority. This option implies --show-section.
--libdevel
Search in section libdevel in addition to libs and oldlibs.
-e, --exclude=LIST
Excludes the packages named in LIST (a comma separated list) from
the evaluation as if they didn't exist in the status file.
-p, --priority=PRIORITY
Show only those packages with a priority equal to, or greater than PRIORITY. PRIORITY may be in the range of 1-5, or one of required, important, standard, optional, extra. Default value for PRIORITY is 2 (important).
-H, --force-hold
Ignore "hold" flags on packages. Normally packages with the "hold" flag set
will not be displayed.
--find-config
This option searches for uninstalled packages which still have configuration
files on the system. It implies the -a option.
"KEEP FILE MANAGEMENT"
-A, --add-keep PKG1...PKGn
Add packages to the list of packages which are never to be reported, regardless
of their state. You may specify '-' to use standard input. Note that
package names are case-sensitive.
-R, --del-keep PKG1...PKGn
Remove packages from the list of packages which are never to be reported.
You may specify '-' to use standard input. If there are no dependencies
for this package next time deborphan is invoked, it will be reported
again.
-L, --list-keep
Show the list of packages that are being kept back.
-Z, --zero-keep
Purge the entire list of packages that are being kept back. The only option
possible in combination with this option is -A.
-k, --keep-file=FILE
Use FILE to store the list of kept-back packages.
"GUESSING"
--guess-*
deborphan can try to guess what packages may not be of much use to you by
examining the package's name and/or description. It will pretend the package
is in the main/libs section, and report it as if it were a library. This
method is in no way perfect or even reliable, so beware when using this!
The following options are to be prefixed by --guess-:
perl
This option tries to find perl modules. It tries to match ^lib.*-perl$.
python
This option tries to find python modules. It tries to match
^python[[:digit:]]*-.
pike
This option tries to find pike modules. It tries to match
^pike[[:digit:]]*-.
ruby
This option tries to find ruby modules. It tries to match
^lib.*-ruby$.
interpreters
Try to find all interpreter modules (i.e. imply ruby, pike,
python and perl).
section
This option tries to find libraries that were accidentally placed in the
wrong section. It tries to match ^lib, but not if it ends
in one of: -dbg, -doc, -perl, or -dev.
dev
This option tries to find development packages, i.e. packages with names ending
in -dev. Also see option --libdevel.
debug
This option tries to find debugging libraries, i.e. packages with names ending
in -dbg.
common
This option tries to find common packages, i.e. packages with names ending in
-common.
data
This option tries to find data packages, i.e. packages with names ending in
-data.
doc
This option tries to find documentation packages, i.e. packages with names
ending in -doc.
dummy
This option tries to find dummy packages, i.e. packages with
dummy or transitional in their short description.
all
Try all of the above.
only
Ignore the package's section completely, and just go for the name and/or
description. This option must be used in conjuction with one or more of the
--guess options listed above, or deborphan will not display anything.
FILES
/var/lib/dpkg/status
Statuses of available packages. See the section
INFORMATION ABOUT PACKAGES in dpkg's man-page for more information
/var/lib/deborphan/keep
A newline-seperated list of packages to keep. Package names are in no
particular order.
