--- title: "Nala APT - to Install and Use on Ubuntu" description: "Supercharge your Ubuntu package management with the Nala Apt wrapper and keep your applications up-to-date quickly and easily!" canonical: "https://adamtheautomator.com/nala-apt/" --- # Nala APT - to Install and Use on Ubuntu > Supercharge your Ubuntu package management with the Nala Apt wrapper and keep your applications up-to-date quickly and easily! Source: https://adamtheautomator.com/nala-apt/ --- ATA Learning Tap to hide [ ATA Learning ](/) * [Home](/) * [Tutorials](/tutorials/) * [Instructors](/author/) * [Advertising](/advertising/) * [Recommended Resources](/resources/) * [About Adam](/about-adam/) Search for: * [](https://twitter.com/adbertram) * [](https://github.com/Adam-the-Automator) * [](https://www.linkedin.com/company/adam-the-automator-llc) * [](/feed/) ![How to Install and Use Nala Apt on Ubuntu](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/nala-apt-1.jpg) # How to Install and Use Nala Apt on Ubuntu [![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2788bb1a3f735603f81eca51d68daec56a9d97e805a10268fb2c20afcc76b81b?s=192&d=mm&r=g)Nicholas Xuan Nguyen](https://adamtheautomator.com/author/nicholas-xuan-nguyen/)5 June 20236 min. read Categories: [IT Ops](/category/it-ops/) Tags:[Ubuntu Linux](/tag/ubuntu-linux/) Table of Contents * [Prerequisites](#prerequisites) * [Installing Nala Apt via the APT Package Manager](#installing-nala-apt-via-the-apt-package-manager) * [Installing Nala Apt via DEB package](#installing-nala-apt-via-deb-package) * [Discovering and Installing Packages With Nala Apt](#discovering-and-installing-packages-with-nala-apt) * [Supercharging Nala Apt with the Fastest Mirrors!](#supercharging-nala-apt-with-the-fastest-mirrors) * [Conclusion](#conclusion) Many package managers exist; you may have tried some of them to see what fits you best. But before you continue scouring the internet for one, why not look into Nala Apt on Ubuntu? Nala Apt, a powerful package manager for Ubuntu, lets you quickly find, install, and upgrade packages. And in this tutorial, you will discover and learn how to use Nala Apt for better package management. Read on and never get left out of all-powerful software packages on Ubuntu! ## Prerequisites Before you can install and use Nala Apt, you need an Ubuntu system. This tutorial uses Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, but other later versions will work. > 💡 _Unfortunately, older versions of Ubuntu are not supported since some Python components required to install Nala are not available in earlier versions. You can upgrade your Ubuntu version if necessary._ Related:[How to Upgrade Ubuntu Linux to a New Release](https://adamtheautomator.com/upgrade-ubuntu/) ## Installing Nala Apt via the APT Package Manager Nala Apt is a frontend written in Python for the Advanced Packaging Tool (APT). The term “frontend” refers to a software tool or interface that provides a user-friendly and simplified way to interact with the underlying APT package manager. Ironically, Nala Apt can be installed using the standard APT package manager. This method is the quickest and most reliable way to install Nala Apt on your system. > 💡 _While APT is robust and feature-rich, it primarily operates through command-line commands and may have a steeper learning curve for some users._ To install Napa Apt on Ubuntu, follow these steps: 1\. Open a terminal, and run the below [`apt update`](https://linuxize.com/post/how-to-use-apt-command/#updating-package-index-apt-update) command to update the APT package manager’s local repository index. This command ensures the latest package information is available in the repository index and helps you install up-to-date versions of packages. ```bash sudo apt update -y ``` Related:[Learning Ubuntu Apt Get Through Examples](https://adamtheautomator.com/ubuntu-apt-get/) ![Updating the APT package manager's local repository index](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-8.png) Updating the APT package manager’s local repository index 2\. Once updated, run the following `apt install` command to download and install Nala Apt (`nala`) on your [Ubuntu system](https://adamtheautomator.com/ubuntu-apt-get/). ```bash sudo apt install nala -y ``` ![Installing Nala Apt on Ubuntu](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-7.png) Installing Nala Apt on Ubuntu If prompted as below, select the services to restart where: * **packagekit.service** – This service manages software updates, installations, and package management tasks and is selected by default, as shown below. Restarting this service ensures any pending changes take effect. * **unattended-upgrades.service** – This service handles automated updates for your system. If you are confident that your system is up-to-date, you can leave this option unchecked. Otherwise, consider checking it for seamless automatic updates. Related:[Staying Up-to-Date With Automatic Upgrades in Ubuntu](https://adamtheautomator.com/automatic-upgrades-in-ubuntu/) But this tutorial’s choice is only the **packagekit.service** to restart. ![nala apt - Choosing the appropriate service to restart](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-6.png) Choosing the appropriate service to restart 3\. Lastly, execute the `nala` command below to check the `--version` of Nala Apt installed on your system ```bash nala --version ``` If you see the version number, as shown below, congratulations! You have successfully installed Nala Apt on your Ubuntu system. ![Checking the version of Nala Apt installed on the system](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-5.png) Checking the version of Nala Apt installed on the system ## Installing Nala Apt via DEB package Besides the APT package manager, you can also install Nala Apt via its DEB package. The Nala Apt developers constantly work to improve Nala Apt, addressing any issues that may arise. Related:[Comprehensive Guide to Install Deb Packages on Ubuntu](https://adamtheautomator.com/install-deb-packages-on-ubuntu/) Installing Nala Apt with DEB ensures you have the most recent version, incorporating the latest bug fixes and enhancements. To install Nala Apt on Ubuntu using a DEB package: 1\. Open your favorite web browser, and visit the [official release page](https://gitlab.com/volian/nala/-/releases) of Nala Apt. 2\. Next, find the latest version, and copy the download link (URL) for the Nala Apt DEB package. The latest version at this time of writing is 0.13. ![Copying the download link for the Nala Apt DEB package](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-15.png) Copying the download link for the Nala Apt DEB package 3\. Return to the terminal, and run the following `wget` command to download the Nala Apt DEB package. Be sure to replace the URL with the one you noted in step two. This command fetches the Nala Apt DEB package from the specified URL and downloads it to your current directory. ```bash sudo wget ``` Related:[PowerShell wget : Awesome Way to Download a File](https://adamtheautomator.com/powershell-download-file/) ![Downloading Nala Apt’s DEB package](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-14.png) Downloading Nala Apt’s DEB package 4\. Once downloaded, execute the below `ls` command to verify the downloaded Nala Apt DEB package exists in your current directory. ```bash ls -l nala_0.13.0_all.deb ``` If successful, you will see the downloaded DEB file listed in the output, as shown below. ![Verifying the downloaded Nala Apt DEB package](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-13.png) Verifying the downloaded Nala Apt DEB package 5\. Run the following command to install the Nala Apt DEB package. ```bash sudo apt install ./nala_0.13.0_all.deb ``` ![Installing the Nala Apt DEB package](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-12.png) Installing the Nala Apt DEB package You may encounter an unmet dependencies error, as shown below. But no worries! Read on and see how to fix this error. ![Fixing unmet dependencies error](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-11.png) Fixing unmet dependencies error Execute the following command to fix (`-f`) unmet dependency errors. ```bash sudo apt-get install -f ``` ![Fixing Unmet dependencies error](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-10.png) Fixing Unmet dependencies error 6\. Lastly, run the `nala` command below to verify the `--versions` of your Nala Apt installation. ```bash nala --version ``` Great! You’re now equipped with the latest Nala Apt version, ready to enjoy its enhanced package management capabilities on your Ubuntu system. ![Checking the version of the Nala Apt installation](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-9.png) Checking the version of the Nala Apt installation ## Discovering and Installing Packages With Nala Apt With Nala Apt installed, you are almost ready to install packages on your Ubuntu system. Yes, almost. Keeping an up-to-date package list is crucial regardless of which method you used to install Nala Apt. Nala Apt is a frontend that acts as an intermediary layer between the user and the APT package manager. But before making the most of this powerful package manager, you must update your Nala Apt package list. To start installing packages via Nala Apt: 1\. Run the command below to `update` your Nala Apt package repository index. This command ensures all packages listed are up-to-date. ```bash sudo nala update ``` > 💡 _Note that Nala Apt requires root or sudo privileges for running some commands, like when performing an update, installing packages, and so on._ ![Updating the Nala Apt Package List](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-19.png) Updating the Nala Apt Package List 2\. Once updated, run the below commands to `exit` from the root user and `list` all packages available in the Nala Apt repository. ```bash nala list ``` Pick one package from the comprehensive list of all available packages, as shown below, from essential utilities to popular applications. Nala Apt provides additional insights into package dependencies and versions. ![Listing all the packages available in the Nala Apt repository ](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-18.png) Listing all the packages available in the Nala Apt repository Alternatively, run the command below to see if a specific package (i.e., `curl`) is available in the Nala Apt repository. This command helps you quickly locate the desired package within the extensive Nala Apt repository. ```bash nala list curl ``` Related:[CURL Linux Command : Learning By Example](https://adamtheautomator.com/curl-linux/) Below, the search result is explicitly filtered for the **curl** package. Notice the result indicates cURL is installed and is upgradeable to a newer version. ![Listing a specific package](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-17.png) Listing a specific package > 💡 _Nala Apt simplifies the command-line interaction with APT by providing additional features, improved readability, tab completion, and search/filtering capabilities._ 3\. Now, run the below `nala install` command to install your desired package (`curl`). When running the command, Nala Apt checks if the package is installed. If so, Nala Apt upgrades it to the latest version of an earlier version present on your system. Otherwise, Nala Apt downloads and installs the specified package. ```bash sudo nala install curl ``` As shown below, you may be prompted to provide your password or confirm the installation. Follow the prompts as necessary to complete the process successfully. ![Installing a specific package (curl) via Nala Apt](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-16.png) Installing a specific package (curl) via Nala Apt ## Supercharging Nala Apt with the Fastest Mirrors! When it comes to efficient package management, speed is of the essence. Nala Apt offers a powerful feature that allows you to configure and use the fastest mirrors available. Mirrors are servers that host a copy of the Ubuntu package repository. These mirrors are spread across different geographical locations, ensuring users can access packages efficiently from a nearby server. You can dramatically speed up downloading and installing packages by configuring Nala Apt to use the fastest mirrors. To configure Nala Apt to use the fastest mirrors available, follow these steps: 1\. Run the below command to find (`fetch`) the fastest mirrors for your system. This command scans all available Ubuntu package mirrors and selects those with the lowest ping time, indicating they are closest to your system’s location. ```bash sudo nala fetch ``` ![Finding the fastest mirrors for your system](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-23.png) Finding the fastest mirrors for your system 2\. Next, select the fastest mirror available to configure for Nala Apt as follows: * Identify the fastest mirror based on its **Score** on the **Fastest Mirrors** list, as shown below, and note its **Index** number. The lowest **Score** value indicates the fastest mirror. * Input the index number at the prompt, and press Enter to select the mirror. In this case, the fastest mirror’s index number is **1**. ![Selecting the fastest mirror](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-22.png) Selecting the fastest mirror 3\. Type **y** and press Enter to confirm your selection. ![Confirming the mirror selection](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-21.png) Confirming the mirror selection 4\. Lastly, run the `nala update` command to refresh the package list and start using Nala Apt with the fastest mirror you selected. ```bash sudo nala update ``` Now you have successfully configured Nala Apt to use the fastest mirrors available. From now on, all subsequent package downloads will be much faster, streamlining your workflow and enhancing your productivity. ![Update the package list to use the fastest mirror](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-20.png) Update the package list to use the fastest mirror ## Conclusion Throughout this tutorial, you have discovered and used Nala Apt to install packages in Ubuntu. You explored an advanced feature to set the fastest mirrors to speed up package downloads and installations. You now have all the tools necessary to become an expert at managing packages on Ubuntu with Nala Apt! But why stop here, though? Why not explore the available commands and features like [history](https://gitlab.com/volian/nala#history) or ZSH [auto-completion](https://gitlab.com/volian/nala#zsh-fish-completions) to further customize your package management experience? 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