XBPS-ALTERNATIVES(1)

📦 version 0.60.6, in alpine 3.24, nixos 26.05, nixpkgs unstable

💅 xbps-alternatives — the XBPS bestie that handles alternatives ✨

okay so like, this is xbps-alternatives, a utility from the XBPS fam, and she's literally the main character of alternative groups. She lists them, she sets them, she's iconic. Periodt. 🎀

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

xbps-alternatives [OPTIONS] MODE

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

so listen bestie, xbps-alternatives lists or sets the alternatives provided by installed packages. alternatives are classified by groups, and a group contains a number of symbolic links which are applied when the group is set. it's giving organized. it's giving structured. we love to see it. 💖

when a package is installed, its alternative groups are registered in the package database (pkgdb). no cap, that's just how she works.

when a package is removed, its alternative groups are unregistered from the package database (pkgdb). and if there are no more alternative groups, the package database removes the references. but if there were alternative groups registered previously, the previous package is set as default provider. slay, she remembers her exes. 😭

✨ OPTIONS ✨

  • -C, --config dir — specifies a path to the XBPS configuration directory. if the first character is not / then it's a relative path of rootdir. lowkey important detail, don't forget it. 🫶
  • -d, --debug — enables extra debugging shown to stderr. for when you need to see everything, bestie. 🔍
  • -g, --group — alternative group name to match. to be used with the set mode. don't try to use it with list and expect group things, that's not the vibe. 💅
  • -h, --help — show the help message. we love a helpful queen. 👑
  • -i, --ignore-conf-repos — ignore repositories defined in configuration files. only repositories specified in the command line via --repository will be used. it's giving selective. it's giving exclusive. 🌈
  • -R — enable repository mode when listing alternatives. this mode explicitly looks for all alternatives available in repositories rather than looking for installed alternatives. so like, she's looking outward, not inward, iykyk. ⭐
  • --repository url — appends the specified repository to the top of the list. the url argument expects a URL to the repository for remote repositories or a path for local repositories. both valid, both iconic. 🔥
  • -r, --rootdir dir — specifies a full path for the target root directory. full path, bestie. don't come at her with a relative one for this. 🧚
  • -v, --verbose — enables verbose messages. for when you want her to spill the tea about what she's doing. 🍓
  • -V, --version — show the version information. know your queen's era. 💜

🎀 MODE 🎀

only one of the following modes can be used at a time. one at a time, bestie. she's not multitasking, she's focused. main character energy only. 💅

  • -l, --list [PKG [-g group]] — lists all current alternative groups or only from PKG, or just a specific group, if the -g --group option is set. so like, you can be broad, you can be specific, you can be very specific. choose your vibe. 🌸
  • -s, --set PKG [-g group] — set alternative groups specified by PKG or just a specific group, if the -g --group option is set. she's setting the standard, literally. 😭

💖 FILES 💖

  • /etc/xbps.d — default configuration directory. where the config lives, periodt. 🏠
  • /usr/share/xbps.d — default system configuration directory. the system's own config spot. 🛸
  • /var/db/xbps/.<pkgname>-files.plist — package files metadata. the receipts, basically. 🧾
  • /var/db/xbps/pkgdb-0.38.plist — default package database (0.38 format). keeps track of installed packages and properties. she's keeping notes on everyone. 🙈
  • /var/cache/xbps — default cache directory to store downloaded binary packages. the stash. the collection. the archive. 💅

🦋 ENVIRONMENT 🦋

  • XBPS_ARCH — overrides uname(2) machine result with this value. she said "i'll decide my own machine result, thanks." 💁‍♀️
  • XBPS_TARGET_ARCH — sets the target architecture to this value. targets, but make it architecture. 🎯
  • XBPS_SYSLOG — overrides the xbps.d(5) syslog=true|false configuration option. syslog vibes, overridden. 🌈

🔥 EXIT STATUS 🔥

a descriptive error message will be printed to stderr. that's it. that's the exit status section. she keeps it real. 💀

🌟 SEE ALSO 🌟

xbps-checkvers(1), xbps-create(1), xbps-dgraph(1), xbps-digest(1), xbps-fbulk(1), xbps-fetch(1), xbps-install(1), xbps-pkgdb(1), xbps-query(1), xbps-reconfigure(1), xbps-remove(1), xbps-rindex(1), xbps-uchroot(1), xbps-uunshare(1), xbps.d(5)

the whole xbps family is here, and honestly? iconic lineup. the avengers of package management, no cap. 🫶✨

💜 AUTHORS 💜

  • Juan Romero Pardines <xtraeme@gmail.com>
  • Duncan Overbruck <mail@duncano.de>

these two? they built her. respect the architects. 👑👑

😭 BUGS 😭

probably, but I try to make this not happen. Use it under your own responsibility and enjoy your life.

like, she's honest. she's self-aware. she's trying her best. use her under your own responsibility and enjoy your life, bestie. that's the whole mood. 🌸

report bugs at https://github.com/void-linux/xbps/issues — the github link, the bug report home, the "tell on her" spot. 🙈

and that's the whole page, bestie! 💖 this manual page is from the Debian source, version Aug 31, 2023, and honestly? she ate. no crumbs. periodt. 💅✨🎀

📦 where this page comes from