We’re launching Lyria 3.5 in Google Flow Music, with advances across musicality, lyrics, vocals, and creative control
deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Lobsters·Jun 14·5 min read
pkgcli: A command-line interface for PackageKit
TL;DR
For nearly two decades, the existing command-line client for PackageKit, called pkcon, was outdated and not user-friendly. To address this, pkgcli was developed as a modern command-line interface that is both interactive and script-friendly.
✦ Why It Matters
Engineers can utilize pkgcli for a more efficient and modern command-line experience in package management.
Key Takeaways
- Explore pkgcli for improved command-line package management.
- Transition from pkcon to pkgcli for better scripting support.
- Leverage pkgcli's interactive features for daily tasks.
- Stay updated on PackageKit changes to maximize tool benefits.
Full Summary
PackageKit has served as a package management abstraction layer for many Linux distributions, but its command-line client, pkcon, had not seen updates for almost a decade, making it cumbersome for users. To modernize this experience, pkgcli was created as a new command-line client designed for ease of use and compatibility with scripting.
Unlike pkcon, which mirrored the D-Bus API and had a plain output, pkgcli offers a more user-friendly interface and improved functionality. The decision to build pkgcli instead of modifying pkcon was made to avoid breaking existing scripts that relied on pkcon's established quirks.
The tool was initially named pkgctl but was renamed to pkgcli to avoid conflicts with an existing tool in Arch Linux. With pkgcli, users can expect a more pleasant interaction with PackageKit, enhancing both manual and automated package management tasks.