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Arch Linux Pacman

Clearing Package Cache

Packages downloaded by Pacman are stored in "/var/cache/pacman/pkg". The downloaded packages are not cleared over time even when a package is uninstalled.

With the use of "paccache" script provided by the "pacman-contrib" package, it allows for deletion of all cached versions of installed and uninstalled packages. By default the most recent 3 cached versions will be kept.

Solution: Manual

  1. First install the required package. 
    # pacman -Sy pacman-contrib

  2. Remove cached packages.

    Remove all except the most 3 recent cached versions. 

    # paccache -r
    Remove all except the most recent 2 cache versions. 
    # paccache -rk2

  3. Remove all cached versions for uninstalled packages. 

    # paccache -ruk0

Note

A test run of the command paccache can be done by adding the parameter -d (e.g. paccache -dr). This would be a dry run, only displaying possible packages that could be removed.

Solution: Hook

The hook will be ran automatically each time a package is installed, removed or upgraded and removes all packages except the most 3 recent cached versions.

  1. Install dependency. 
    # pacman -Sy pacman-contrib
  2. Create directory. 
    # mkdir -p /etc/pacman.d/hooks
  3. Create hook. 
    # nano /etc/pacman.d/hooks/pacman-cache.hook

    [Trigger]
Type = Package
Operation = Remove
Operation = Install
Operation = Upgrade
Target = *

[Action]
Description = Remove unused package files cached by pacman in user's home directory
Depends = bash
Depends = pacman-contrib
When = PostTransaction
Exec = /usr/bin/bash -c '/usr/bin/paccache -r;'

Solution: Systemd Timer

Default behaviour is to run weekly to clear unused packages and keep the 3 most recent cached versions.

  1. Install required package. 
    # pacman -Sy pacman-contrib
  2. Edit timer file as desired (optional). 
    # systemctl edit paccache.timer

    ### Editing /etc/systemd/system/paccache.timer.d/override.conf
### Anything between here and the comment below will become the new contents of the file

OnCalendar=weekly

### Lines below this comment will be discarded

### /etc/systemd/system/paccache.timer
# [Unit]
# Description=Discard unused packages weekly
#
# [Timer]
# OnCalendar=weekly
# AccuracySec=1h
# Persistent=true
#
# [Install]
# WantedBy=timers.target
  3. Edit service unit file (optional). 
    # systemctl edit paccache.service

    ### Editing /etc/systemd/system/paccache.service.d/override.conf
### Anything between here and the comment below will become the new contents of the file

ExecStart=/usr/bin/paccache -rk2

### Lines below this comment will be discarded

### /etc/systemd/system/paccache.service
# [Unit]
# Description=Discard unused packages
#
# [Service]
# Type=oneshot
# ExecStart=/usr/bin/paccache -r
  4. Enable paccache timer. 
    # systemctl enable paccache.timer
Last update: December 12, 2022