Alpine Linux Quick Reference Commands¶

Package Management¶

Action	Command Example	Info
Add package	apk add firefox
Add package	apk add firefox openbox	Multiple packages will be installed.
Add package locally	apk add --allow-untrusted /path/to/file.apk	Install local package.
List packages	apk list	List all available and installed packages.
List packages installed	apk list -I
List packages orphaned	apk list -O
List packages upgradeable	apk list -u
List package dependencies	apk info -R firefox
List package reverse dependencies	apk info -r firefox	List all other packages which depend on the package.
Remove package	apk del firefox
Search package	apk search firefox	Searches through package name and description. Results return package name.
Search package name/description	apk search -v firefox	Results return package name and description.
Search package description	apk search -d firefox
Search packages installed	apk list -I	grep -i keyword
Show file origin	apk info --who-owns /usr/bin/chromium-browser
Show statistics	apk stats
Update repository	apk update	Update repository indexes.
Update/Upgrade packages	apk -U upgrade	Update repository indexes and install available packages upgrades.
Upgrade packages	apk upgrade -s	Simulate the install of available package upgrades.
Upgrade packages	apk upgrade	Install available package upgrades from repositories.
Upgrade packages	apk upgrade --ignore firefox	Upgrade all packages except the ones listed.
View package info	apk info firefox
View package info	apk info -L firefox	List files included in the package.

Action	Command Example	Info
Add service	rc-update add docker
List all services	rc-update -v show
List failed services	rc-status --crashed
List running services status	rc-status
Remove service	rc-update del docker
Restart service	rc-service docker restart
Start service	rc-service docker start
Status service	rc-service docker status
Stop service	rc-service docker stop
System halt	halt
System poweroff	poweroff
System reboot	reboot

Last update: March 16, 2023