====== Using Pacman ======
DeLi Linux since 0.8 using the pacman package manager from Arch Linux. Parts of this document
are shamelessly stolen from the Arch Linux Wiki at http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pacman

===== Overview =====
Pacman keeps the system up to date by synchronizing package lists with the master server. This server/client model also allows you to download/install packages with a simple command, complete with all required dependencies.

Pacman is written in the C programming language, so it is fast, light and very agile. It uses the .tar.gz package format, which further enhances its speed; Gzipped tarballs, though slightly larger, are decompressed much faster than their Bzipped counterparts, and are therefore generally installed more expediently.


===== Configuration =====
Pacman configuration is located in /etc/pacman.conf. In depth information about the configuration file can be found in "man pacman".




==== General options ====

General options are in [options] section. Read the man page or look in the default pacman.conf for information on what can be done here.



==== Using proxy server ====

Setting pacman for using proxy server is possible through adding directives like

<code>

ProxyServer=192.168.1.1
ProxyPort=1080

</code>

==== Repositories ====

In this section you define which repositories to use, as referred to in /etc/pacman.conf.

First edit /etc/pacman.conf

<code>
[cdrom]
Server = file:///cdrom/pkg

#[current]
#Server = http://www.delilinux.org/pkg/current
</code>

  * If you want to use CDROM only leave the file as it is
  * If you want to receive updates from the internet and additional packages, uncomment the second "current" entry
  * You may optionally comment the "cdrom" entry







===== Usage =====
To really learn what pacman can do, read man pacman. The below is just a small sample of operations that can be performed.

==== Installing and Removing Packages ====

Before installing and upgrading packages, it is a good idea to synchronize the local package database with the remote repositories. 

''pacman -Sy''

or

<code>
pacman --sync --refresh
</code>

To install or upgrade a single package or list of packages (including dependencies), issue the following command:

''pacman -U http://www.delilinux.org/pkg/current/package_name-version.pkg.tar.gz''

or 

''pacman -S package_name1 package_name2''

You can also refresh the package database before installing a package in one command:

''pacman -Sy package_name''

To remove a single package, leaving all of its dependencies installed:

''pacman -R package_name''

To remove all of the packages dependencies which aren't used by any other installed package:

''pacman -Rs package_name''

==== Upgrading the System ====

Pacman can update all packages on the system with just one command. This could take quite a while depending on how up-to-date your system is.

''pacman -Su''

However, the best option is to synchronize the repository databases AND update your system in one go with the following:

''pacman -Syu''

==== Querying the Package Database ====

Pacman can search and query the local package database with the -Q flag. See

<code>
pacman -Q --help
</code>

or the pacman(8) manpage for more details. Sync databases can be searched and
queried with the -S flag. See either the manpage just mentioned or

<code>
pacman -S --help
</code>

for details.

==== Other Usage ====

Pacman is quite an extensive package management tool, here is just a brief collection of other features.

    * Download a package without installing it: 

''pacman -Sw package_name''

    * Install a local package (not from a repository): 

''pacman -U /path/to/package/package_name-version.pkg.tar.gz''

You may also enter a URL:

''pacman -U http://www.examplepackage/repo/examplepkg.tar.gz''

    * Fully clean the package cache (/var/cache/pacman/pkg): 

''pacman -Scc''

For a more detailed list of switches please refer to pacman --help or man pacman.