Best GUI Package Manager: Octopi vs Pamac

rinchen · April 21, 2023, 6:47pm

Howdy!

I've recently discovered that in Arch one should not use KDE Discover since it uses packagekit. When I installed Gurada I removed Octopi. I've installed it (and to try also the QT notifier). I find myself using pamac (CLI and GUI) mostly but wanted to ask in case there is a preferred or better way for software discovery and installation.

Also, is there any easy way to determine what software (if any) was installed via packagekit? I've uninstalled KDE Discover but I can reinstall it if I need to remove anything.

Thanks!

ps. Garuda won me over because it worked on my ancient macbook pro without any modifications. Endeavour wouldn't even boot.

RodneyCK · April 21, 2023, 7:10pm

I think you should keep KDE Discover, as it updates any theming elements, icons, themes, etc. That is the only thing I use it for.

I like to keep Octopi installed because it is a great GUI for using the 'reinstall' feature and it can install Arch packages that you create, via Debian's .deb packages, etc.

For grasping an overall view of what apps are installed and from where, I use Bauh as my main. It handles everything, but of course, only do updates/upgrades via 'garuda-update' in terminal.

Evrala · April 21, 2023, 7:11pm

I keep going back and forth between Octopi and Bauh.

Right now though I basically just use Octopi to browse packages and install via command line.

I keep discover and use it for managing Flatpaks, which I have 2 of.

Locutus · April 21, 2023, 7:18pm

So does garuda-update. Discover in my book if it’s installed should be one of the first things uninstalled once landing on the desktop. Once a day I run garuda-update then for aur, flatpak, snap, etc… I run topgrade right after it.

RodneyCK · April 21, 2023, 7:56pm

Garuda-update has never once updated themes installed via System Settings via the KDE Store. I think what you mean is if you install a theme from AUR or ARCH, etc., yes, then garuda-update would update those. I am talking about System Settings themes....Discover handles all those, which is a handy feature.

rinchen · April 21, 2023, 8:16pm

One of the features of KDE Discover that is helpful on anything but Arch is the update notifier. Even disabled, it still shows up in the tray until I run update.

RodneyCK · April 21, 2023, 8:31pm

The only issue with KDE Discover's update feature, is that it does not notify when there are AUR updates, only ARCH updates. Unless they have changed it recently.

I think there is a really good widget Arch updater that lives in the taskbar. I use 'plasma5-applets-kde-arch-update-notifier' found in AUR. Works great, handles Arch, AUR and I think Snap updates, can set the time intervals and even change the icon if you want (great for theming.)

Grimy1928 · April 21, 2023, 8:37pm

Outta curiosity, anything like this for Gnome you know of?

rinchen · April 21, 2023, 8:40pm

For grins I gave that a try but decided to remove it. In general, I don't believe you need an update notifier because ....it's arch... there is always an update. The Garuda system maintenance widget is good enough to remind you if you really forgot something.

RodneyCK · April 21, 2023, 9:10pm

I don’t believe you need an update notifier because …it’s arch

Very true! All day, any day.

BluishHumility · April 22, 2023, 5:07am

Except for Pacseek, I don't use the GUI package managers so it may be my opinion isn't worth much on this one. By weighing in anyway, I suppose I run the risk of coming across as "old man yelling at cloud" ( "Dangit, you manage your packages with Pacman--it's right there in the name you idiot, blah blah blah" [shakes fist at sky]).

I will say just from my experience here in the forum that Pamac seems to cause a lot of issues with package management. More than any other package management software by a long shot, I would say.

That isn't to say Pamac is terrible and you shouldn't use it or whatever; I do think there are a number of factors that play into Pamac breaking stuff, and in a lot of cases user error probably plays a role. All I mean to point out is Pamac has a long and storied tradition of breaking people's systems on a fairly regular basis for as long as I have been in the forum.

To be fair, it is not difficult to hose your system by misusing Pacman either.

Pacman and Paru are the best tools for package management in my opinion. Since they are command-line tools, you have to learn a couple commands or whatever but it is really easy to get good results from them once you do.

pacman -Ss is a good way to search for new packages.

Example

pacman -Ss spotify
community/ncspot 0.13.0-1 [installed]
    Cross-platform ncurses Spotify client written in Rust, inspired by ncmpc and the likes.
community/playerctl 2.4.1-3 [installed]
    mpris media player controller and lib for spotify, vlc, audacious, bmp, xmms2, and others.
community/spotify-launcher 0.5.0-1
    Client for spotify's apt repository in Rust for Arch Linux
community/spotifyd 0.3.4-1
    Lightweight spotify streaming daemon with spotify connect support
chaotic-aur/psst-git r485.c68ec42-1
    Fast and multi-platform Spotify client with native GUI
chaotic-aur/python-spotdl 4.0.7-2
    Download your Spotify playlists and songs along with album art and metadata (from YouTube if a match is
    found).
chaotic-aur/python-spotipy 2.23.0-1
    A light weight Python library for the Spotify Web API
chaotic-aur/spicetify-cli 2.17.2-1
    Command-line tool to customize Spotify client
chaotic-aur/spicetify-cli-git 2.17.1.r3.g1123935-1
    Command-line tool to customize Spotify client - Git master branch
chaotic-aur/spot-client 0.4.0-1
    Gtk/Rust native Spotify client
chaotic-aur/spot-client-git 0.3.3.r0.g8fe75ea-1.3
    Gtk/Rust native Spotify client - git version
chaotic-aur/spotify 1:1.2.8.923-1
    A proprietary music streaming service
chaotic-aur/spotify-adblock-git 1:1.0.2.r4.g22847a7-1
    Adblocker for Spotify
chaotic-aur/spotify-qt 3.9-1.1
    Lightweight Spotify client using Qt
chaotic-aur/spotify-tray-git 1.3.2.r9.g7ec6ac4-1
    Tray icon for the Spotify Linux client application
chaotic-aur/spotify-tui 0.25.0-3
    Spotify client for the terminal written in Rust
chaotic-aur/themix-export-spotify-git 1.2.8.r5.g2d1a2ef-1
    Export plugin for Themix GUI designer to apply color palettes to Spotify desktop player

paru (with no flags, just the search query) does the same thing but includes AUR packages also.

Example

 paru spotify
  1 chaotic-aur/spotify 1:1.2.8.923-1 [111.22MiB 257.59MiB]
    A proprietary music streaming service
  2 aur/spotify 1:1.2.8.923-1 [+33 ~14.86] [Out-of-date: 2023-04-20]
    A proprietary music streaming service
  3 community/ncspot 0.13.0-1 [0B 17.12MiB] [Installed]
    Cross-platform ncurses Spotify client written in Rust, inspired by ncmpc and the likes.
  4 community/playerctl 2.4.1-3 [0B 451.62KiB] [Installed]
    mpris media player controller and lib for spotify, vlc, audacious, bmp, xmms2, and others.
  5 community/spotify-launcher 0.5.0-1 [1.60MiB 5.06MiB]
    Client for spotify's apt repository in Rust for Arch Linux
  6 community/spotifyd 0.3.4-1 [3.28MiB 12.06MiB]
    Lightweight spotify streaming daemon with spotify connect support
  7 chaotic-aur/psst-git r485.c68ec42-1 [9.32MiB 20.00MiB]
    Fast and multi-platform Spotify client with native GUI
  8 chaotic-aur/python-spotdl 4.0.7-2 [133.56KiB 583.44KiB]
    Download your Spotify playlists and songs along with album art and metadata (from YouTube if a match is 
    found).
  9 chaotic-aur/python-spotipy 2.23.0-1 [63.94KiB 367.66KiB]
    A light weight Python library for the Spotify Web API
 10 chaotic-aur/spicetify-cli 2.17.2-1 [3.81MiB 7.28MiB]
    Command-line tool to customize Spotify client
 11 chaotic-aur/spicetify-cli-git 2.17.1.r3.g1123935-1 [3.81MiB 7.28MiB]
    Command-line tool to customize Spotify client - Git master branch
 12 chaotic-aur/spot-client 0.4.0-1 [5.43MiB 16.48MiB]
    Gtk/Rust native Spotify client
 13 chaotic-aur/spot-client-git 0.3.3.r0.g8fe75ea-1.3 [5.03MiB 16.11MiB]
    Gtk/Rust native Spotify client - git version
 14 chaotic-aur/spotify-adblock-git 1:1.0.2.r4.g22847a7-1 [553.22KiB 1.45MiB]
    Adblocker for Spotify
 15 chaotic-aur/spotify-qt 3.9-1.1 [987.42KiB 2.72MiB]
    Lightweight Spotify client using Qt
 16 chaotic-aur/spotify-tray-git 1.3.2.r9.g7ec6ac4-1 [13.45KiB 26.15KiB]
    Tray icon for the Spotify Linux client application
 17 chaotic-aur/spotify-tui 0.25.0-3 [3.20MiB 8.64MiB]
    Spotify client for the terminal written in Rust
 18 chaotic-aur/themix-export-spotify-git 1.2.8.r5.g2d1a2ef-1 [12.89KiB 26.65KiB]
    Export plugin for Themix GUI designer to apply color palettes to Spotify desktop player
 19 aur/mopidy-spotify 4.1.1-2 [+90 ~0.00]
    Mopidy extension for playing music from Spotify
 20 aur/spotify-tui 0.25.0-3 [+62 ~2.44]
    Spotify client for the terminal written in Rust
 21 aur/spotify-adblock-git 1:1.0.2.r0.g9ba383b-2 [+54 ~0.24]
    Adblocker for Spotify
 22 aur/spicetify-cli 2.17.2-1 [+48 ~0.38]
    Command-line tool to customize Spotify client
 23 aur/spotify-legacy 0.9.17-3 [+34 ~0.00]
    A proprietary music streaming service.
 24 aur/spotify-adkiller-git r177.2dabf81-1 [+28 ~0.00] [Orphaned]
    Your Party with Spotify - without ads!
 25 aur/spotify-dev 1.2.8.923-1 [+26 ~0.48]
    A proprietary music streaming service
 26 aur/python2-pyspotify 2.1.3-1 [+23 ~0.00]
    A Python Spotify library
 27 aur/spotify-qt 3.10-1 [+20 ~0.05]
    Lightweight Spotify client using Qt
 28 aur/mopidy-iris 3.66.1-1 [+19 ~0.00]
    A Mopidy Web client that utilizes the Spotify and EchoNest frameworks. (Formerly Spotmop)
 29 aur/spot-client 0.4.0-1 [+19 ~0.15]
    Gtk/Rust native Spotify client
 30 aur/python-spotipy 2.23.0-1 [+18 ~0.27]
    A light weight Python library for the Spotify Web API
 31 aur/spotify-adblock 1:1.0.2-1 [+18 ~0.14]
    Adblocker for Spotify
 32 aur/python-spotdl 4.1.6-1 [+16 ~0.33]
    Download your Spotify playlists and songs along with album art and metadata (from YouTube if a match is 
    found).
 33 aur/librespot-git 1:1435.e5fd7d6-1 [+12 ~0.00]
    Open Source Spotify client library
 34 aur/tizonia-all 0.22.0-1 [+12 ~0.02] [Out-of-date: 2023-01-03]
    Command-line cloud music player for Linux with support for Spotify, Google Play Music, YouTube, 
    SoundCloud, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Plex servers and Chromecast devices.
 35 aur/psst-git r417.f1300bf-3 [+11 ~1.05]
    Fast and multi-platform Spotify client with native GUI
 36 aur/spotify-dl-git r9.97bdc5c-1 [+11 ~0.00]
    Script that allows you to download Spotify songs or playlists from Youtube
 37 aur/spotify-edge 1.2.9.743-1 [+11 ~3.03]
    A proprietary music streaming service. Edge version.
 38 aur/ncspot-git 0.11.0-1 [+10 ~0.00]
    Cross-platform ncurses Spotify client written in Rust, inspired by ncmpc and the likes.
 39 aur/spotify-adkiller-dns-block-git r82.1184e1e-4 [+10 ~0.00]
    Experimental dns blocking from Spotify AdKiller
 40 aur/spotify-tui-bin 0.25.0-4 [+10 ~0.03]
    Spotify client for the terminal written in Rust
 41 aur/spotifywm-git 0.0.r1.91dd553-2 [+10 ~0.00]
    Makes Spotify more friendly to window managers by settings a class name before opening the window.
 42 aur/libspotify 12.1.51-8 [+9 ~0.00]
    C API package allowing third-party developers to write applications that utilize the Spotify music 
    streaming service
 43 aur/python2-spotipy 2.4.4-1 [+8 ~0.00]
    Simple client for the Spotify Web API
 44 aur/spotify-tray-git 1.3.2.r0.g99d1fc5-1 [+8 ~0.09]
    Tray icon for the Spotify Linux client application
 45 aur/sconsify 0.6.0-1 [+7 ~0.00]
    CLI Spotify client
 46 aur/themix-export-spotify-git 1.2.8-1 [+7 ~0.04]
    Export plugin for Themix GUI designer to apply color palettes to Spotify desktop player
 47 aur/playerctl-git 2.3.1.r25.g7cad212-1 [+6 ~0.00]
    mpris media player controller and lib for spotify, vlc, audacious, bmp, xmms2, and others.
 48 aur/spotify-ripper 2.18-3 [+6 ~0.00]
    CLI Spotify ripper
 49 aur/python-swspotify 1.2.1-1 [+5 ~0.00] [Out-of-date: 2022-05-15]
    Cross-platform library to get the currently playing song and artist from Spotify w/o using the API or the
    internet. Very fast.
 50 aur/qt5-webengine-widevine 112.0.5615.49-1 [+5 ~0.00]
    A browser plugin designed for the viewing of premium video content (E.g. Spotify)
 51 aur/spot-client-git r698.4b1209d-2 [+5 ~0.42]
    Gtk/Rust native Spotify client - git version
 52 aur/spotblock-git r20.c58364e-1 [+5 ~0.00]
    A spotify ad blocker
 53 aur/spotify-remove-ad-banner 5-1 [+5 ~0.37]
    Remove Spotify ad banner
 54 aur/spotify-snapstore 1.1.99.878.g1e4ccc6e-1 [+5 ~0.00]
    A proprietary music streaming service
 55 aur/sptlrx-bin 1.0.0-2 [+5 ~0.06]
    Timesynced Spotify lyrics in your terminal.
 56 aur/myuzi v1.14.0-1 [+4 ~0.08]
    Spotify alternative with no ads, payments or accounts
 57 aur/oggify-git 0.2.1.r0.gce3e875-1 [+4 ~0.00] [Orphaned]
    Download spotify media (Premium account required)
 58 aur/python-tekore 4.5.0-1 [+4 ~0.00]
    Client for the Spotify Web API
 59 aur/spop-git r328.1a26dec-2 [+4 ~0.00]
    A Spotify client running as a daemon, similar to mpd.
 60 aur/spotblock-rs 0.9.4-1 [+4 ~0.02]
    Spotify Advertisment muter for linux
 61 aur/spotify-tui-git 0.25.0.r15.gc4dcf6b-1 [+4 ~0.00] [Orphaned]
    Spotify client for the terminal written in Rust
 62 aur/spotrec 0.15.1-1 [+4 ~0.00]
    Spotify desktop client recorder for PulseAudio
 63 aur/swaglyrics 1.2.2-1 [+4 ~0.00]
    Get lyrics of currently playing Spotify song so you don't sing along with the wrong ones and embarrass 
    yourself later. Very fast.
 64 aur/baton-bin 0.1.6-1 [+3 ~0.00] [Out-of-date: 2020-07-08] [Orphaned]
    CLI / TUI to remotely manage Spotify playback
 65 aur/librespot 0.4.2-1 [+3 ~0.04]
    Open source client library for Spotify
 66 aur/ncspot-bin 0.13.1-1 [+3 ~0.01]
    Cross-platform ncurses Spotify client written in Rust, inspired by ncmpc and the likes.
 67 aur/polybar-spotify-git r42.9bc2997-1 [+3 ~0.00]
    Spotify artist and song module for Polybar
 68 aur/polybar-spotify-module 1.2.5-1 [+3 ~0.00]
    Programs to display spotify information and control spotify with polybar
 69 aur/psst-git-bin r1.1627cd4-2 [+3 ~0.05] [Out-of-date: 2022-10-10]
    Fast and multi-platform Spotify client with native GUI (binary git version). 
    github.com/thebiblelover7/psst-git-bin
 70 aur/python-cef 66.1.r3.g5679f28-1 [+3 ~0.00]
    CEF python bindings (with bundled spotify-built CEF)
 71 aur/spicetify-cli-git 2.16.1.r1.gd5cc68f-1 [+3 ~0.00]
    Command-line tool to customize Spotify client - Git master branch
 72 aur/spotiflyer-bin 3.6.3-1 [+3 ~0.06]
    Kotlin Multiplatform Music Downloader, Supports Spotify / Gaana / Youtube Music / Jio Saavn / SoundCloud.
 73 aur/spotify-player 0.13.1-1 [+3 ~1.05]
    A command driven spotify player.
 74 aur/spotirec-git r206.30b9654-1 [+3 ~0.00]
    Create playlist of recommended tracks on Spotify
 75 aur/spotube-bin 2.7.1-1 [+3 ~0.00]
    Open source Spotify client that doesn't require Premium nor uses Electron! Available for both desktop & 
    mobile!
 76 aur/tizonia-all-git 0.21.0.r14.ge508473f-1 [+3 ~0.00]
    Command-line cloud music player for Linux with support for Spotify, Google Play Music, YouTube, 
    SoundCloud, Plex servers and Chromecast devices.
 77 aur/freyr-git r820.3092133-3 [+2 ~0.16]
    A tool for downloading songs from music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music.
 78 aur/gospt 0.0.49-1 [+2 ~0.29]
    Spotify TUI And CLI written in Go
 79 aur/onthespot-git 0.4-1 [+2 ~0.10]
    A qt based free spotify downloader written in python.
 80 aur/playx-git r419.9050f0c-5 [+2 ~0.00]
    Search and play songs from Youtube, Soundcloud, Spotify and more from your terminal
 81 aur/python-spotify 2.1.3-1 [+2 ~0.00]
    A Python wrapper for libspotify.
 82 aur/python-spotipy-git r568.48d04f3-1 [+2 ~0.00]
    Simple client for the Spotify Web API
 83 aur/python-spotpris2 0.4.1-1 [+2 ~0.00]
    Control Spotify Connect devices using MPRIS2
 84 aur/python2-spotify 2.1.3-1 [+2 ~0.00]
    A Python wrapper for libspotify.
 85 aur/rofi-spotify-git r46.17d7cd0-1 [+2 ~0.01]
    A python program to interact with Spotify via rofi based on spotipy
 86 aur/blockify-git v3.6.3.r24.g370d321-2 [+1 ~0.08]
    Mutes Spotify advertisements.
 87 aur/gospt-git 0.0.7.r1.gdcfc0d4-1 [+1 ~0.14]
    Spotify TUI And CLI written in Go
 88 aur/librespot-java 1.6.2-1 [+1 ~0.00]
    A Spotify Connect enabled headless client
 89 aur/libspotify-full 12.1.51-7 [+1 ~0.00]
    C API package allowing third-party developers to write applications that utilize the Spotify music 
    streaming service
 90 aur/moosync-appimage 8.0.0-1 [+1 ~0.43]
    Music player capable of playing local audio or from Youtube, Spotify and many more
 91 aur/polybar-now-playing-git 1-1 [+1 ~0.02]
    Script for polybar to display and control media (not only Spotify)using DBus
 92 aur/polybar-spotify 20200619_b5c59238a17180affae5232c234175524a17d1c4-3 [+1 ~0.00]
    Spotify now-playing info in polybar
 93 aur/python-pyspotify 2.1.3-4 [+1 ~0.00]
    A Python Spotify library
 94 aur/pytify 3.6.3-3 [+1 ~0.00]
    A Python CLI application for controlling Spotify.
 95 aur/sp 1-0 [+1 ~0.00]
    sp, the command-line Spotify controller.
 96 aur/spotify-backup-git r6.5a96c02-1 [+1 ~0.00]
    None
 97 aur/spotify-noshows 1:1.1.84.716-2 [+1 ~0.00]
    Patched version of spotify AUR package excluding podcast recommendations from the home page
 98 aur/spotify-qt-git 3.9.r294.ge0a2832a-1 [+1 ~0.37]
    Lightweight Spotify client using Qt
 99 aur/spotify-search-provider 1.0.1-1 [+1 ~0.00]
    GNOME Shell search provider for Spotify
100 aur/spotify2musicbrainz-git 0.3.2.r0.g2f70217-1 [+1 ~0.00]
    Python script for importing albums on Spotify to MusicBrainz
101 aur/spotify_dl 8.3.0-1 [+1 ~0.00] [Out-of-date: 2022-11-27] [Orphaned]
    Downloads songs from your Spotify Playlist
102 aur/spotitube-bin 31-1 [+1 ~0.00]
    Synchronize your Spotify collections downloading from external providers
103 aur/yet-another-spotify-tray-git 1.3.0.0233e2f-1 [+1 ~0.28]
    Tray icon for Spotify Linux client application
104 aur/zspotify 0.5.2-4 [+1 ~0.00]
    A Spotify downloader needing only a python interpreter and ffmpeg.
105 aur/jakym 0.4.1-2 [+0 ~0.00]
    JAKYM, Just Another Konsole YouTube-Music. A command line based Youtube music player written in Python 
    with both Spotify and Youtube playlist support and easy on memory.
106 aur/librespot-alsa-git 1:1420.bbd575e-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    Open Source Spotify client library, alsa backend
107 aur/librespot-java-git v1.5.2.r26.g26818c6-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    A Spotify Connect enabled headless client
108 aur/librespot-pulseaudio-git 1:1242.4fc3acc-1 [+0 ~0.00] [Out-of-date: 2021-08-20]
    Open Source Spotify client library with pulseaudio backend
109 aur/mustream-git r55.2f0cb52-4 [+0 ~0.00]
    A script to play music (with spotify) through the command line.
110 aur/onetagger 1.6.0-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    Cross-platform music tagger with Beatport, Discogs, Musicbrainz, Spotify, Traxsource and many other 
    services support.
111 aur/python-librespot 0.0.8-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    Open Source Spotify Client
112 aur/python-pywal-spotify-git 1.0.0-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    Sync pywal colour scheme and wallpaper with Spotify
113 aur/python-spotify-ripper-git r451.d046419-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    Command-line ripper for Spotify (python3)
114 aur/python-sputils 0.3.1-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    A collection of spotify utilities, designed to be used with other shell utilities.
115 aur/qt6-webengine-widevine 112.0.5615.49-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    A browser plugin designed for the viewing of premium video content (E.g. Spotify)
116 aur/raspotify-git 0.43.34.r0.d989394-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    A spotify connect client that just works
117 aur/ruby-jekyll-spaceship 0.10.2-2 [+0 ~0.00]
    A Jekyll plugin to provide powerful supports for table, mathjax, plantuml, mermaid, emoji, video, audio,
    youtube, vimeo, dailymotion, spotify, soundcloud, etc.
118 aur/sp0-bin 0.1.3-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    A cross-platform CLI Tool for requesting the Spotify Web API, with a focus on automation.
119 aur/spicetify-theme-dracula-git r19.g97bf149-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    Dracula theme for Spotify through spicetify-cli
120 aur/spofi-git 1.0-2 [+0 ~0.00]
    Control spotify using rofi.
121 aur/spotifatius 0.2.3-2 [+0 ~0.00]
    A simple Spotify CLI primarily made for monitoring what songs you're listening to and displaying that in
    your bar of choice like waybar or polybar.
122 aur/spotify-blur-me-not 0.1.2-3 [+0 ~0.00]
    Auto-enable Wayland (ozone) for spotify
123 aur/spotify-control 1.1.0-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    Control Spotify from the command line
124 aur/spotify-fixer 0.1.0-2 [+0 ~0.00]
    Fixes Spotify scaling and launching behavior
125 aur/spotify-web-shortcut 1.0.0-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    Desktop shortcut for Spotify Web application
126 aur/spotrec-git v0.12.0.r2.g15c2e71-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    Spotify desktop client recorder for PulseAudio (git version)
127 aur/styx-cli-git v1.0.0.r5.gb7a993e-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    The command-line interface to Spotify Styx
128 aur/untitled-spotifyd-controller 0.1.0-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    A simple Go utility to display track information from, and send commands to, spotifyd from status bars 
    and indicators
129 aur/visp-spotify-git r1151.539512a-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    A Vi-like Spotify client for terminal users
130 aur/ypc-git 1.7.1-1 [+0 ~0.00]
    Convert spotify/deezer/text albums/playlists to youtube urls and/or download audio/video files.
:: Packages to install (eg: 1 2 3, 1-3):

pacman -Sii will give you a lot more information about a package, including what version it's on, the relevant website, dependency info, package size, and more.

Example

pacman -Sii spotify-launcher
Repository      : community
Name            : spotify-launcher
Version         : 0.5.0-1
Description     : Client for spotify's apt repository in Rust for Arch Linux
Architecture    : x86_64
URL             : https://github.com/kpcyrd/spotify-launcher
Licenses        : MIT  Apache
Groups          : None
Provides        : None
Depends On      : sequoia-sqv  zenity  alsa-lib>=1.0.14  gtk3  libxss  desktop-file-utils  openssl  nss
                  at-spi2-atk  libcurl-gnutls  libsm
Optional Deps   : None
Required By     : None
Optional For    : None
Conflicts With  : None
Replaces        : None
Download Size   : 1641.83 KiB
Installed Size  : 5184.23 KiB
Packager        : kpcyrd <kpcyrd@archlinux.org>
Build Date      : Fri 20 Jan 2023 04:55:14 AM EST
MD5 Sum         : a88272d1f09e987026aa8c067adb1975
SHA-256 Sum     : 49d563d3177ef1cc730c2d78fadd8a3a15af809ce66bf9c20c85d405223ea9f2
Signatures      : 45A650E2638C536D

Those are obviously not GUI options, so off-topic I guess. But still, it doesn't hurt to learn a few command-line options because there is no faster way.

Personally my favorite package management tool is Pacseek, which is a wonderful and robust little tool with a TUI interface.

Once you learn your way around (get started here, also see man pacseek), it is blazing fast and plenty featureful. It has tons of useful information and with a few shortcuts you can find most anything you need from right in the tool (view PKGBUILD info, sort by repository, link to the package website, etc). You owe it to yourself to check it out if you haven't already.

Locutus · April 22, 2023, 10:04am

And as I said topgrade will handle anything garuda-update doesn't so no need to update anything through a GUI program that can glitch. As for pacseek I do agree with using it to find your software. I use it to find my software and pikaur for my aur helper.

rinchen · April 22, 2023, 1:53pm

Thanks for turning me on to pacseek. Great program.

Also, for the great reply

RodneyCK · April 22, 2023, 1:58pm

I still don't see in topgrade's documentation where it states it updates the KDE Store repos where many themes, icons, wallpapers and widgets hail, like Discover does.

rinchen · April 22, 2023, 2:30pm

I think I should have led my original post with the added clause of "that won't break your system if you use it". I see that all of these appear to use pacman (although often the flags are hidden). pamac seems to hide the terminal output which I think would cause some issues since you can't see any warnings, errata, etc. pamac is also slow to launch on my system. Octopi and pacseek both launch in a terminal. My desire for the GUI was a simpler way to find packages although I am used to doing apt search and dnf search so pacman -Ss isn't bad at all. The pacman output is better than pamac search too. I like the method pacman uses to show the repo as well.

Two things for me that are easier to do in a GUI than terminal generally are looking for orphans and explicit installs...just a personal preference. Something like this:

Thanks for all the replies.

Bro · April 22, 2023, 4:01pm

I prefer dpkg

Next Up: Distro Wars!

BluishHumility · April 22, 2023, 4:52pm

All of your orphaned packages are announced at the end of a garuda-update (along with pacnew and pacsave files), if you’d rather spare yourself the bother of looking these up.

Nothing wrong with checking on them manually of course; the Pacman way to do this is:

pacman -Qdt

To remove orphans:

pacman -Qtdq | sudo pacman -Rns -

Careful with that last one. Certain things can cause explicitly installed packages to be marked orphans incorrectly, so you need to thoroughly check and double-check to confirm you are not going to remove a needed package.

To list all packages explicitly installed and not required as dependencies:

pacman -Qet

These and other Pacman tips can be found here, or here.

aegir221 · April 22, 2023, 6:09pm

Topgrade seems useful. It even upgrades my neovim plugins.

System update: OK
Git repositories: OK
TLDR: OK
SDKMAN!: OK
apm: OK
pip3: OK
Neovim: OK
helix: OK
micro: OK
Firmware upgrades: OK

Regarding GUI apps.. I do not use them. Here are my alias commands for interacting with pacman.

(Another tip is doing a pacman -Ss >app name< | grep installed to find any installed packages. I have been using this a lot. I personally do not use the -Q option often.)

###--Pacman--
alias pi="sudo pacman -S"
alias pu="sudo pacman -Syu"
alias pf="sudo pacman -Ss"
alias pq="sudo pacman -Q"
###--YAY--
alias yi="yay -S"
alias yu="yay -Syyu"
alias yf="yay -Ss"```

Bro · April 22, 2023, 7:17pm

I believe the (official) Pacman Rosetta needs mention.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Pacman/Rosetta

rinchen · April 22, 2023, 10:47pm

After testing yesterday and today, along with some additional reading, this is what I settled on:

pacman -Rns pamac-aur
topseek if I want a quick way to look around or I forget the exact pacman commands (seriously, pacman is like emacs with all the flags )
pacman for pacman
paru for AUR helper
Octopi (sans notifier) for GUI if I want it because
1. it's reasonably fast
2. you can execute the commands in a terminal
3. it can use paru for AUR searches
4. it has nice indicators (aliens, colors) to give you some helpful information

And as an added bonus from the thread, topgrade (after upgrade) taught me about how arch handles maintainer config diffs so that was nice. Also a nice little sanity check at the end.

Thanks for the great discussion.