NAME
    Linux::APT - Interface with APT for Debian distributions

DESCRIPTION
    Perl interface to "apt-get" and "apt-cache". If Debian's "aptpkg"
    modules were on CPAN, this module (probably) wouldn't be necessary. This
    is just a wrapper around the "apt" tools along with some regular
    expression magic to capture interesting pieces of
    information/warnings/errors in the process. It doesn't do *everything*
    that is possible, but it should fill the most typical needs. Features
    will be added on request or my own need. Please file a wishlist bug
    report on the CPAN bug tracker with your feature requests.

    All (or almost all?) features require root privileges. If you can use
    "sudo" to provide this functionality, see "new" to see how to do this.

    It's not ready for production use, but you're welcome to give it a try.
    *Please* file bug reports if you come across any problems/bugs/etc.
    Patches are always welcomed, of course.

EXAMPLE
      my $apt = Linux::APT->new;
      my $update = $apt->update;
      my $toupgrade = $apt->toupgrade;
      my $upgraded = $apt->install(keys(%{$toupgrade->{packages}}));

METHODS
  new
      my $apt = Linux::APT->new;

      # only if you _really_ want to see what's going on...
      my $apt = Linux::APT->new(debug => 1);

      # if you want to use an alternate apt-get/apt-cache binary
      my $apt = Linux::APT->new(
        aptget => '/some/path/to/apt-get',
        aptcache => '/some/path/to/apt-cache',
      );

      # if you have special needs (like sudo, etc)
      my $apt = Linux::APT->new(
        aptget => '/usr/bin/sudo /some/path/to/apt-get -s', # sudo and no-act
        aptcache => '/usr/bin/sudo /some/path/to/apt-cache', # sudo
      );

    Creates an instance of Linux::APT, just like you would expect.

    If you have special needs for only one function (install maybe?), make a
    separate instance with your special needs (flags, sudo, etc) and use
    that instance for your special need.

    If your special need can't be accommodated via the "aptget" option
    above, let me know and I'll attempt to implement whatever it is that you
    need within the module or make your special need a bit more "accessible"
    to you. File a bug report on the CPAN bug tracker. Patches welcome, of
    course.

    Arguments available:

    debug
        Set to 1 to enable, defaults to 0.

    aptget
        Specify the "apt-get" binary to use along with any special flags or
        command line tricks (sudo, chroot, fakeroot, etc). Defaults to
        `which apt-get`.

    aptcache
        Specify the "apt-cache" binary to use along with any special flags
        or command line tricks (sudo, chroot, fakeroot, etc). Defaults to
        `which apt-cache`.

  update
      my $update = $apt->update;

      warn "There were errors...\n" if $update->{error};
      warn "There were warnings...\n" if $update->{warning};

    Update apt cache. Basically equivalent to "apt-get update".

    Returns hashref containing these items:

    error
        Arrayref of errors.

    warning
        Arrayref of warnings.

    speed
        Network transfer speed of update.

    time
        Wallclock time it took to update.

    size
        Amount of received transferred during update.

  toupgrade
      my $toupgrade = $apt->toupgrade;

    Returns hashref of packages, errors, and warnings:

    warning
        Warnings, if any.

    error
        Errors, if any.

    packages
        Contains a hashref of updateable packages. Keys are package names.
        Each update is a hashref containing these items:

        current
            Currently installed version.

        new Version to be installed.

  search
      my $search = $apt->search('^t\w+d$', 'perl');

      my $search = $apt->search({in => ['all']}, '^t\w+d$', 'perl'); # 'all' is default

      my $search = $apt->search({in=>['name', 'description']},
            'linux[\s-]image', 'linux[\s-]source', 'linux kernel image');

      my $search = $apt->search({in => ['description']}, 'linux kernel source');

    Requires one or more search arguments in regex format. Optional options
    as first argument in hashref format.

    Return a hashref of packages that match the regex search.

    packages
        Multiple searches can be specified. Each search is a hash key then
        broken down by each matching package name and it's summary.

  install
      # install or upgrade the specified packages (and all deps)
      my $install = $apt->install('nautilus', 'libcups2', 'rhythmbox');

      # just a dry run
      my $install = $apt->install('-test', 'nautilus', 'libcups2', 'rhythmbox');

      # upgrade all upgradable packages with a name containing "pulseaudio" (and all deps)
      my $toupgrade = $apt->toupgrade;
      my $install = $apt->install(grep(m/pulseaudio/i, keys(%{$toupgrade->{packages}})));

    Install a list of packages. If the packages are already installed, they
    will be upgraded if an upgrade is available.

    Pass in these optional options:

    -force
        If you wish to force an update (eg: "WARNING: The following packages
        cannot be authenticated!"), pass "-force" as one of your arguments
        (same effect as "apt-get --force-yes install $packages").

    -test
        If you just want to know what packages would be
        installed/upgraded/removed, pass "-test" as one of your arguments.
        No actions will actually take place, only the actions that would
        have been performed will be captured. This is useful when you want
        to ensure some bad thing doesn't happen on accident (like removing
        "apache2-mpm-worker" when you install "php5") or to allow you to
        present the proposed changes to the user via a user interface (GUI,
        webapp, etc).

    Returns hashref of packages, errors, and warnings:

    warning
        Warnings, if any.

    error
        Errors, if any.

    packages
        Contains a hashref of installed/upgraded packages. Keys are package
        names. Each item is a hashref containing these items:

        current
            Currently installed version (after install/upgrade attempt).
            This version is found via an experimental technique and might
            fail (though it has yet to fail for me). Let me know if you find
            a bug or have a problem with this value.

        new Version to be installed. If "new == current", the action seems
            to have succeeded.

        old Version that was installed before the upgrade was performed. If
            "old == current", the action seems to have failed.

  remove
      my $removed = $apt->remove('php5', 'php5-common');

      # just a dry run
      my $removed = $apt->remove('-test', 'php5', 'php5-common');

    Remove a list of packages. Arguments are the exact same as "install".
    Returns the exact same as "install".

  purge
      my $removed = $apt->purge('php5', 'php5-common');

      # just a dry run
      my $removed = $apt->purge('-test', 'php5', 'php5-common');

    Purge a list of packages. Arguments are the exact same as "install".
    Returns the exact same as "install".

TODO
    (update this todo list...)
    Add functions to modify the "sources.list".
    Add "dist-upgrade" functionality.
    Add function to show version(s) of currently installed specified
    package(s).
    Determine other necessary features. (please use the CPAN bug tracker to
    request features)

BUGS/WISHLIST
    REPORT BUGS! Report any bugs to the CPAN bug tracker. Bug reports are
    adored.

    To wishlist something, use the CPAN bug tracker (set as wishlist). I'd
    be happy to implement useful functionality in this module on request.

PARTICIPATION
    I'd be very, very happy to accept patches in diff format. Or...

    If you wish to hack on this code, please fork the git repository found
    at: <http://github.com/dustywilson/Linux--APT/>

    If you have some goodness to push back to that repository, just use the
    "pull request" button on the github site or let me know where to pull
    from.

THANKS
    Nicholas DeClario

        Patch to provide initial search function for version 0.02.

COPYRIGHT/LICENSE
    Copyright 2009 Megagram. You can use any one of these licenses: Perl
    Artistic, GPL (version >= 2), BSD.

  Perl Artistic License
    Read it at <http://dev.perl.org/licenses/artistic.html>. This is the
    license we prefer.

  GNU General Public License (GPL) Version 2
      This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
      modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
      as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
      of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

      This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
      but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
      MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
      GNU General Public License for more details.

      You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
      along with this program.  If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/

    See the full license at <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

  GNU General Public License (GPL) Version 3
      This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
      it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
      the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
      (at your option) any later version.

      This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
      but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
      MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
      GNU General Public License for more details.

      You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
      along with this program.  If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/

    See the full license at <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

  BSD License
      Copyright (c) 2009 Megagram.
      All rights reserved.

      Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted
      provided that the following conditions are met:

          * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions
          and the following disclaimer.
          * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions
          and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
          distribution.
          * Neither the name of Megagram nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse
          or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.

      THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
      WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
      PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR
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      LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
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