I always see commands like this
apt-get -y install
What is the -y tag for and what is the difference between apt-get install with and without the -y tag?
asked Sep 11, 2015 at 11:42
-
1the Manual is at linux.die.net/man/8/apt-get– ilanschCommented Oct 31, 2016 at 15:25
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
From the results of running man apt-get
-y, --yes, --assume-yes
Automatic yes to prompts; assume "yes" as answer to all prompts and
run non-interactively. If an undesirable situation, such as
changing a held package, trying to install a unauthenticated
package or removing an essential package occurs then apt-get will
abort. Configuration Item: APT::Get::Assume-Yes.
If you run an apt-get command without the -y option, you need to answer to all prompts that you get from that command interactively in order for the execution of the command to continue.
-
5Also note that this is a common switch in utilities that have confirmation prompts in their functionality. While it's convenient in the shell, the real purpose is for automating scripts.– user1359Commented Sep 11, 2015 at 14:51
-
4I wouldn't go as far as calling
-y"common". The feature is fairly common in system administration tools (of which apt-get is one) but the method varies. When in doubt, always refer to the man page for the command in question for what parameter to use and what effect it has.– userCommented Sep 11, 2015 at 15:39 -
14One side effect of using
-yis that it will skip downgrades, whereas if the user enteredy, it would perform the downgrades. So if you want-yto execute the same thing as a user enteringy, you also need to add--allow-downgrades.– wisbuckyCommented Mar 24, 2018 at 0:00 -
1I just started using a Raspberry Pi 3 I bought, and encountered
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yin the process of following an online tutorial. In doing my due diligence to understand the command they were having me enter, I tried checking "man apt upgrade" but it didn't explain the -y switch so I googled and ended up here. Any idea why the man page didn't explain? I'm guessing it was either because I was asking the system about an alias, or because it's assumed I'm familiar with purportedly "common" switches. Either way, thank you for covering the gap with your answer! Commented Apr 12 at 15:09 -
@Twisted-onstrike-Checkbio If you want to read about here's how to find it fast. First type
man apt-getto show the man pages for apt-get. Then type/-yand press Enter to search for the-yoption description. It's as easy as Pi!– karelCommented Apr 12 at 15:48