Uninstalling software cleanly

Uninstalling Software Cleanly on Linux: A Guide to Apt, DNF, and Zypper

When using Linux, it’s essential to efficiently manage your system's software installation and removal processes. A cluttered system not only consumes unnecessary disk space but can also decrease performance and possibly lead to conflicts between applications. Properly uninstalling software on Linux is straightforward provided you use the correct package management tools. In this blog post, we'll explore how to cleanly uninstall software using the major package managers: apt, dnf, and zypper.

1. Using Apt (Debian, Ubuntu, and derivatives)

Apt (Advanced Package Tool) is the package manager used by Debian and its derivatives like Ubuntu. It is popular for its simplicity and effectiveness.

How to Uninstall Software with Apt:

To uninstall software using apt, open your terminal and follow these steps:

Update your package list:
```
sudo apt update
```
This command ensures you have the latest information about available packages and their versions.
Uninstall the software:
```
sudo apt remove package_name
```
Replace package_name with the actual name of the software package you want to remove. This command removes the package but leaves configuration files intact, which is useful if you plan to reinstall the software later.
Remove the software along with its configuration files:
```
sudo apt purge package_name
```
Alternatively, if you want to remove the software along with all its configuration files, use purge instead of remove.
Remove unused dependencies:
```
sudo apt autoremove
```
After uninstalling, it’s a good practice to run this command. It removes libraries and packages that were installed automatically to satisfy the dependencies of installed packages and are no longer needed.

2. Using DNF (Fedora, CentOS, and derivatives)

DNF (Dandified YUM) is the next-generation version of YUM and is used by Fedora and other RPM-based distributions.

How to Uninstall Software with DNF:

Find the installed package:
```
dnf list installed | grep package_name
```
This helps you find the exact name of the package if you're not sure about it.
Uninstall the software:
```
sudo dnf remove package_name
```
This command removes the package but retains the configuration files.
Clean up leftover dependencies:
```
sudo dnf autoremove
```
Like apt, DNF also can remove packages that were installed as dependencies but are no longer needed by any installed package.

3. Using Zypper (openSUSE and SUSE Linux Enterprise)

Zypper is the command-line interface of ZYpp package manager, used by openSUSE and SUSE Linux Enterprise.

How to Uninstall Software with Zypper:

Search for the package:
```
zypper search --installed-only package_name
```
This command helps you find the exact name of the installed package.
Uninstall the software:
```
sudo zypper remove package_name
```
zypper remove deletes the package but keeps configuration files and certain dependencies.
Perform a system cleanup:
```
sudo zypper clean
```
This command cleans up all the local caches of repository meta-data and packages, helping you save space and avoid using outdated data.

Final Note:

Cleaning up your Linux installation by uninstalling unnecessary packages is a great practice to avoid software conflicts and reclaim disk space. Each package manager has its means of handling packages with various options for keeping or deleting configuration files and dependencies. Make sure to take advantage of these features to keep your Linux environment clean, efficient, and well-organized. Remember to always be cautious and double-check before removing any packages to avoid inadvertently affecting system stability.