How to switch Linux distro and keep all programs? [closed]
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I want to switch distro (from one Debian based distro to another, both use apt) and I have been looking for a way to easily reinstall all the programs/applications/languages that I have installed at the moment. I could only find instructions on how to keep my data, but that's the easy part.
How can I get a list of all installed packages, preferably in such a way that I can pass it to apt so that it installs the correct version of each package, if it's available on the new distro?
linux distributions
asked May 29 at 19:48
iuvbio
266
closed as too broad by Rui F Ribeiro, DopeGhoti, garethTheRed, Jeff Schaller, GAD3R May 29 at 20:28
Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
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show 3 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I want to switch distro (from one Debian based distro to another, both use apt) and I have been looking for a way to easily reinstall all the programs/applications/languages that I have installed at the moment. I could only find instructions on how to keep my data, but that's the easy part.
How can I get a list of all installed packages, preferably in such a way that I can pass it to apt so that it installs the correct version of each package, if it's available on the new distro?
linux distributions
asked May 29 at 19:48
iuvbio
266
closed as too broad by Rui F Ribeiro, DopeGhoti, garethTheRed, Jeff Schaller, GAD3R May 29 at 20:28
Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
8
Related: unix.stackexchange.com/a/399627/170373 and the quote from the Kali website: "it is NOT a recommended distribution if you’re looking for a general-purpose Linux desktop distribution"
– ilkkachu
May 29 at 19:54
1
"I want to switch distro (from elementary to kali) ". Why? Some elements have no direct equivalent. ElementaryOS uses Pantheon as Desktop Environment. Kali Linux does not have Pantheon.
– arochester
May 29 at 20:00
5
If you need guidance on getting a list of all installed packages, it's entirely possible that Kali Linux is probably not for you.
– DopeGhoti
May 29 at 20:02
Anyone who can actually answer the question, if it's that easy? I have used Kali before and I know what I'm doing. I was looking for some quick help instead of figuring it out on my own. Also, as I found no answer so far, this could be a nice reference point for anyone switching distros, not just to or from Kali.
– iuvbio
May 29 at 21:11
2
The quick answer is that you don't. Switching entire distributions is a big deal, and they typically provide very different packages/versions, offer the same packages by different names, or use different formats entirely. If you want your applications to be agnostic of your system, consider the use of containerization or "snaps". Otherwise, you're dancing in a field of rakes.
– Spooler
May 29 at 22:00
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I want to switch distro (from one Debian based distro to another, both use apt) and I have been looking for a way to easily reinstall all the programs/applications/languages that I have installed at the moment. I could only find instructions on how to keep my data, but that's the easy part.
How can I get a list of all installed packages, preferably in such a way that I can pass it to apt so that it installs the correct version of each package, if it's available on the new distro?
linux distributions
asked May 29 at 19:48
iuvbio
266
I want to switch distro (from one Debian based distro to another, both use apt) and I have been looking for a way to easily reinstall all the programs/applications/languages that I have installed at the moment. I could only find instructions on how to keep my data, but that's the easy part.
How can I get a list of all installed packages, preferably in such a way that I can pass it to apt so that it installs the correct version of each package, if it's available on the new distro?
linux distributions
asked May 29 at 19:48
iuvbio
266
edited May 31 at 17:16
asked May 29 at 19:48
iuvbio
266
asked May 29 at 19:48
iuvbio
266
asked May 29 at 19:48
iuvbio
266
266
closed as too broad by Rui F Ribeiro, DopeGhoti, garethTheRed, Jeff Schaller, GAD3R May 29 at 20:28
Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as too broad by Rui F Ribeiro, DopeGhoti, garethTheRed, Jeff Schaller, GAD3R May 29 at 20:28
Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
8
Related: unix.stackexchange.com/a/399627/170373 and the quote from the Kali website: "it is NOT a recommended distribution if you’re looking for a general-purpose Linux desktop distribution"
– ilkkachu
May 29 at 19:54
1
"I want to switch distro (from elementary to kali) ". Why? Some elements have no direct equivalent. ElementaryOS uses Pantheon as Desktop Environment. Kali Linux does not have Pantheon.
– arochester
May 29 at 20:00
5
If you need guidance on getting a list of all installed packages, it's entirely possible that Kali Linux is probably not for you.
– DopeGhoti
May 29 at 20:02
Anyone who can actually answer the question, if it's that easy? I have used Kali before and I know what I'm doing. I was looking for some quick help instead of figuring it out on my own. Also, as I found no answer so far, this could be a nice reference point for anyone switching distros, not just to or from Kali.
– iuvbio
May 29 at 21:11
2
The quick answer is that you don't. Switching entire distributions is a big deal, and they typically provide very different packages/versions, offer the same packages by different names, or use different formats entirely. If you want your applications to be agnostic of your system, consider the use of containerization or "snaps". Otherwise, you're dancing in a field of rakes.
– Spooler
May 29 at 22:00
 |Â
show 3 more comments
8
Related: unix.stackexchange.com/a/399627/170373 and the quote from the Kali website: "it is NOT a recommended distribution if you’re looking for a general-purpose Linux desktop distribution"
– ilkkachu
May 29 at 19:54
1
"I want to switch distro (from elementary to kali) ". Why? Some elements have no direct equivalent. ElementaryOS uses Pantheon as Desktop Environment. Kali Linux does not have Pantheon.
– arochester
May 29 at 20:00
5
If you need guidance on getting a list of all installed packages, it's entirely possible that Kali Linux is probably not for you.
– DopeGhoti
May 29 at 20:02
Anyone who can actually answer the question, if it's that easy? I have used Kali before and I know what I'm doing. I was looking for some quick help instead of figuring it out on my own. Also, as I found no answer so far, this could be a nice reference point for anyone switching distros, not just to or from Kali.
– iuvbio
May 29 at 21:11
2
The quick answer is that you don't. Switching entire distributions is a big deal, and they typically provide very different packages/versions, offer the same packages by different names, or use different formats entirely. If you want your applications to be agnostic of your system, consider the use of containerization or "snaps". Otherwise, you're dancing in a field of rakes.
– Spooler
May 29 at 22:00
8
8
Related: unix.stackexchange.com/a/399627/170373 and the quote from the Kali website: "it is NOT a recommended distribution if you’re looking for a general-purpose Linux desktop distribution"
– ilkkachu
May 29 at 19:54
Related: unix.stackexchange.com/a/399627/170373 and the quote from the Kali website: "it is NOT a recommended distribution if you’re looking for a general-purpose Linux desktop distribution"
– ilkkachu
May 29 at 19:54
1
1
"I want to switch distro (from elementary to kali) ". Why? Some elements have no direct equivalent. ElementaryOS uses Pantheon as Desktop Environment. Kali Linux does not have Pantheon.
– arochester
May 29 at 20:00
"I want to switch distro (from elementary to kali) ". Why? Some elements have no direct equivalent. ElementaryOS uses Pantheon as Desktop Environment. Kali Linux does not have Pantheon.
– arochester
May 29 at 20:00
5
5
If you need guidance on getting a list of all installed packages, it's entirely possible that Kali Linux is probably not for you.
– DopeGhoti
May 29 at 20:02
If you need guidance on getting a list of all installed packages, it's entirely possible that Kali Linux is probably not for you.
– DopeGhoti
May 29 at 20:02
Anyone who can actually answer the question, if it's that easy? I have used Kali before and I know what I'm doing. I was looking for some quick help instead of figuring it out on my own. Also, as I found no answer so far, this could be a nice reference point for anyone switching distros, not just to or from Kali.
– iuvbio
May 29 at 21:11
Anyone who can actually answer the question, if it's that easy? I have used Kali before and I know what I'm doing. I was looking for some quick help instead of figuring it out on my own. Also, as I found no answer so far, this could be a nice reference point for anyone switching distros, not just to or from Kali.
– iuvbio
May 29 at 21:11
2
2
The quick answer is that you don't. Switching entire distributions is a big deal, and they typically provide very different packages/versions, offer the same packages by different names, or use different formats entirely. If you want your applications to be agnostic of your system, consider the use of containerization or "snaps". Otherwise, you're dancing in a field of rakes.
– Spooler
May 29 at 22:00
The quick answer is that you don't. Switching entire distributions is a big deal, and they typically provide very different packages/versions, offer the same packages by different names, or use different formats entirely. If you want your applications to be agnostic of your system, consider the use of containerization or "snaps". Otherwise, you're dancing in a field of rakes.
– Spooler
May 29 at 22:00
 |Â
show 3 more comments
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8
Related: unix.stackexchange.com/a/399627/170373 and the quote from the Kali website: "it is NOT a recommended distribution if you’re looking for a general-purpose Linux desktop distribution"
– ilkkachu
May 29 at 19:54
1
"I want to switch distro (from elementary to kali) ". Why? Some elements have no direct equivalent. ElementaryOS uses Pantheon as Desktop Environment. Kali Linux does not have Pantheon.
– arochester
May 29 at 20:00
5
If you need guidance on getting a list of all installed packages, it's entirely possible that Kali Linux is probably not for you.
– DopeGhoti
May 29 at 20:02
Anyone who can actually answer the question, if it's that easy? I have used Kali before and I know what I'm doing. I was looking for some quick help instead of figuring it out on my own. Also, as I found no answer so far, this could be a nice reference point for anyone switching distros, not just to or from Kali.
– iuvbio
May 29 at 21:11
2
The quick answer is that you don't. Switching entire distributions is a big deal, and they typically provide very different packages/versions, offer the same packages by different names, or use different formats entirely. If you want your applications to be agnostic of your system, consider the use of containerization or "snaps". Otherwise, you're dancing in a field of rakes.
– Spooler
May 29 at 22:00