how to run apt-get

Either login as root, or use su, sudo, or an equivalent comment from a terminal window or console.

Then run the command:

apt-get update

This refreshes the apt cache with the available list of software packages.

You can run the command:

apt-cache search

followed by the name (or partial name) of a package, and it will list any packages that match the name you entered.

You can then run the command:

apt-get install package, for example:

apt-get install firefox

and if there is a package by that name that can be installed or upgraded, apt-get will install it, along with any additional packages needed to run it.

The command apt-get dist-upgrade will perform a distribution upgrade, which will install the most current versions of the software already installed.

All of these commands work best with an updated package cache, which is why apt-get update is the first apt command to run when you want to update software.

You can clean the apt package cache by running the command:

apt-get clean

en.wikipedi may be a useful resource for more information.