gdebi

Install local .deb packages resolving and installing its dependencies

$ gdebi [path/to/package.deb]

$ gdebi [path/to/package.deb] [[-q|--quiet]]

$ gdebi [path/to/package.deb] [[-o|--option]] [APT_OPTS]

$ gdebi [path/to/package.deb] --root [path/to/root_directory]

$ gdebi --version

gdebi [options] package.deb

-h, --help
    Show help message and exit

-V, --version
    Show version information

-n, --non-interactive
    Run non-interactively; assume yes

--no-check-requires
    Skip dependency checking

--apt-line
    Print equivalent apt install command

-q, --quiet
    Suppress output

--simulate
    Simulate installation (dry-run)

--root=<DIR>
    Install to alternate root directory

--log=<FILE>
    Log output to file

gdebi is a lightweight command-line tool designed for installing local .deb packages on Debian-based systems like Ubuntu. Unlike dpkg, which only installs a single package without handling dependencies, gdebi uses apt to automatically resolve, download, and install required dependencies from repositories. This makes it ideal for installing software from downloaded .deb files without manually managing dependencies.

It supports both interactive and non-interactive modes, simulation for testing, and options for custom roots or logging. Primarily for CLI use, there's a companion GUI gdebi-gtk. gdebi ensures safer installations by verifying package integrity and checking for conflicts before proceeding.

Key benefits include simplicity for single-package installs, preservation of local package sources, and integration with apt's dependency system. It's especially useful in scripts, servers, or when repositories aren't available for a package. However, for multiple packages or repository management, prefer apt.

gdebi package.deb
gdebi --non-interactive --simulate package.deb
gdebi --apt-line package.deb

Developed by Carlos Thinil Resa for Ubuntu; first released around 2007 as part of the gdebi package. Evolved to handle apt integration; maintained in Debian repositories since 2009.

dpkg(1), apt(8), dpkg-deb(1), gdebi-gtk(1)