How to get regular stuff working - Revision history

Apropos: /* Filesystem support */ link directly to overview

2026-04-12T03:27:14Z

Filesystem support: link directly to overview

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:27, 12 April 2026
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	{{Main\|Filesystems}}		{{Main\|Filesystems}}

	Alpine supports [[Filesystems\|a variety of filesystems]]. Support (and tooling) for them may be had through their various packages: {{pkg\|dosfstools}}, {{pkg\|exfatprogs}}, {{pkg\|zfs}}, etc...		Alpine supports [[Filesystems#Overview\|a variety of filesystems]]. Support (and tooling) for them may be had through their various packages: {{pkg\|dosfstools}}, {{pkg\|exfatprogs}}, {{pkg\|zfs}}, etc...

	== Disk management ==		== Disk management ==

Apropos: Add section on filesystem support

2026-04-12T03:26:37Z

Add section on filesystem support

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:26, 12 April 2026
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	The packages {{pkg\|hwdata-pci}} and {{pkg\|hwdata-usb}} are dependencies for the above utilities and they are installed automatically. These packages can be removed once the hardware configuration has been completed.		The packages {{pkg\|hwdata-pci}} and {{pkg\|hwdata-usb}} are dependencies for the above utilities and they are installed automatically. These packages can be removed once the hardware configuration has been completed.

			== Filesystem support ==
			{{Main\|Filesystems}}

			Alpine supports [[Filesystems\|a variety of filesystems]]. Support (and tooling) for them may be had through their various packages: {{pkg\|dosfstools}}, {{pkg\|exfatprogs}}, {{pkg\|zfs}}, etc...

	== Disk management ==		== Disk management ==

Apropos: /* Disk management */ cleanup and mention gvfs

2026-04-12T03:25:26Z

Disk management: cleanup and mention gvfs

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:25, 12 April 2026
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	== Disk management ==		== Disk management ==
	{{Main\|File management}}		{{Main\|File management}}
	~~Managing disks including~~ removable disks is much easier ~~with udisks~~.{{~~Cmd~~\|# apk add {{pkg\|udisks2}}~~}} To see the mounted disks:~~{{~~Cmd~~\|~~# udisksctl status~~}}
			[[File management#Udisks\|udisks]] and [[File management#GVfs\|GVfs]] make managing (removable) disks much easier.
			{{cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|udisks2}} {{pkg\|gvfs-fuse}}}}

	== Network management ==		== Network management ==

Apropos: /* Development environment */ Note some examples of what binutils provides

2026-04-12T02:45:28Z

Development environment: Note some examples of what binutils provides

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:45, 12 April 2026
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	== Development environment ==		== Development environment ==
	{{Main\|Developer Documentation}}		{{Main\|Developer Documentation}}
	Compiling in Alpine Linux may be more challenging because it uses [[Musl\|musl instead of glibc]]. The {{pkg\|build-base}} meta package provides regular compiler stuff such as {{pkg\|binutils}}, {{pkg\|gcc}}, {{pkg\|g++}}, {{pkg\|make}} etc..		Compiling codebases in Alpine Linux may be more challenging because it uses [[Musl\|musl instead of glibc]]. The {{pkg\|build-base}} meta package provides regular compiler stuff such as {{pkg\|binutils}} (providing <code>ld</code>, <code>objdump</code>, <code>readelf</code>, etc...), {{pkg\|gcc}}, {{pkg\|g++}}, {{pkg\|make}}, etc...

	{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|build-base}}}}		{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|build-base}}}}

	The {{pkg\|alpine-sdk}} meta package is provided to build packages for Alpine Linux. It includes {{pkg\|abuild}}, {{pkg\|build-base}}, and {{pkg\|git}}.		The {{pkg\|alpine-sdk}} meta package is provided to build packages for Alpine Linux. It includes {{pkg\|abuild}}, {{pkg\|build-base}}, and {{pkg\|git}}.

	{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|alpine-sdk}}}}		{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|alpine-sdk}}}}

	~~To install CMake:~~		{{pkg\|cmake}} may be desirable to have installed.

	{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|cmake}} {{pkg\|extra-cmake-modules}}}}		{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|cmake}} {{pkg\|extra-cmake-modules}}}}

Apropos: Stick Subpackages section below the Linux utilities section (which references it) + minor wording changes

2026-04-12T02:36:41Z

Stick Subpackages section below the Linux utilities section (which references it) + minor wording changes

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:36, 12 April 2026
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	{{Main\|GNU core utilities}}		{{Main\|GNU core utilities}}

	Most of the basic file, shell and text manipulation utilities commonly grouped under [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_GNU_Core_Utilities_commands ~~Core Utilities~~] are provided by [[BusyBox]]. To replace it with GNU {{pkg\|coreutils}} package:{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|coreutils}}}}		Most of the basic file, shell and text manipulation utilities commonly grouped under [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_GNU_Core_Utilities_commands core utilities] are provided by [[BusyBox]]. To replace it with GNU {{pkg\|coreutils}} package:{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|coreutils}}}}

	== Linux utilities ==		== Linux utilities ==

	A set of approximately 100 basic Linux system utilities not included in GNU ~~Core Utilities~~, such as <code>mount</code>, <code>cfdisk</code>, <code>more</code>, <code>lsblk</code> and <code>kill</code> are maintained under [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Util-linux util-linux]. The {{pkg\|util-linux}} package is split into multiple subpackages, so it is possible to install only some of them individually. To have the complete {{pkg\|util-linux}} package:{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|util-linux}}}}		A set of approximately 100 basic Linux system utilities not included in the GNU core utilities, such as <code>mount</code>, <code>cfdisk</code>, <code>more</code>, <code>lsblk</code> and <code>kill</code> are maintained under [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Util-linux util-linux]. The {{pkg\|util-linux}} package is split into multiple subpackages (see below), so it is possible to install only some of them individually. To have the complete {{pkg\|util-linux}} package:{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|util-linux}}}}

	The ~~full featured~~ file pager ~~utility~~ <code>less</code> ~~can be~~ installed ~~from~~ the {{pkg\|~~less~~}} package.		The standard file pager <code>less</code> is not actually provided by {{pkg\|coreutils}} or {{pkg\|util-linux}}, but rather by the standalone package {{pkg\|less}}.

			== Subpackages and missing functionality ==

			When a package is installed in Alpine Linux, no assumption is made as to what features the user wants, so [[Alpine_Package_Keeper#Subpackages\|subpackages]] are not installed by default. As such, the user might get a false impression of missing functionality.

			For example, the {{pkg\|networkmanager}} package for [[NetworkManager]] has 20+ subpackages based on features. If the user installs the {{pkg\|networkmanager}} package, ''only'' the NetworkManager utility will get installed. To manage Wi-Fi networks, use commands like <code>nmcli</code> and <code>nmtui</code>, or launch the GTK applet, the user is expected to add the required subpackages {{pkg\|networkmanager-wifi}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-cli}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-tui}}, and {{pkg\|network-manager-applet}} respectively.

			This is in contrast to many other Linux distributions, where when NetworkManager is installed all the above functionality plus that of {{pkg\|networkmanager-bluetooth}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-adsl}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-wwan}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-openvpn}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-l2tp}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-ppp}}, and the like are automatically installed, along with their dependencies.

	== Search utilities ==		== Search utilities ==
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	* Consult the [[Compose_key\|Compose Key]] wikipage to create foreign currency symbols, accents and diacritics, endashes (–) and emdashes (—), etc.		* Consult the [[Compose_key\|Compose Key]] wikipage to create foreign currency symbols, accents and diacritics, endashes (–) and emdashes (—), etc.

	~~== Subpackages and missing functionality ==~~

	When a package is installed in Alpine Linux, no assumption is made as to what features the user wants, so [[Alpine_Package_Keeper#Subpackages\|subpackages]] are not installed by default. As such, the user might get a false impression of missing functionality.

	For example, the {{pkg\|networkmanager}} package for [[NetworkManager]] has 20+ subpackages based on features. If the user installs the {{pkg\|networkmanager}} package, ''only'' the NetworkManager utility will get installed. To manage Wi-Fi networks, use commands like <code>nmcli</code> and <code>nmtui</code>, or launch the GTK applet, the user is expected to add the required subpackages {{pkg\|networkmanager-wifi}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-cli}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-tui}}, and {{pkg\|network-manager-applet}} respectively.

	This is in contrast to many other Linux distributions, where when NetworkManager is installed all the above functionality plus that of {{pkg\|networkmanager-bluetooth}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-adsl}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-wwan}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-openvpn}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-l2tp}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-ppp}}, and the like are automatically installed, along with their dependencies.

	== Development environment ==		== Development environment ==
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	[[Category:Installation]]		[[Category:Installation]]
	[[~~category~~: System Administration]]		[[Category:System Administration]]

Apropos: /* Search utilities */ clean up wording and mention ripgrep. deciding not to mention fd (find alternative) as ripgrep is much more widely used

2026-04-12T02:05:45Z

Search utilities: clean up wording and mention ripgrep. deciding not to mention fd (find alternative) as ripgrep is much more widely used

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:05, 12 April 2026
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	== Search utilities ==		== Search utilities ==

	~~Standard~~ search tools <code>~~xargs~~</code> and <code>~~find~~</code> ~~can be installed~~ by ~~via~~ the {{pkg\|findutils}} package ~~as follows~~:{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|findutils}} }}		The standard search tools <code>find</code> and <code>xargs</code> are provided by the {{pkg\|findutils}} package:{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|findutils}}}}

	GNU Grep is ~~also~~ available as the {{pkg\|grep}} package.		GNU Grep is available as the {{pkg\|grep}} package. The {{pkg\|ripgrep}} package is also available and provides <code>rg</code>.

	== Shell management ==		== Shell management ==

Apropos: Note the usefulness of apk info when dealing with utilities packages / meta packages

2026-04-12T00:28:11Z

Note the usefulness of apk info when dealing with utilities packages / meta packages

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:28, 12 April 2026
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	Alpine Linux is built around [[Musl\| musl libc]] and [[BusyBox]] and software packages are thinned out and split into [[#Subpackages and missing functionality\|subpackages]]. This makes it small and very resource efficient. The [[BusyBox#BusyBox applets\|utilities in BusyBox]] tend to only implement standard options and lack GNU-specific extensions. This page explains how to get the utilities typically found in GNU/Linux distributions.		Alpine Linux is built around [[Musl\| musl libc]] and [[BusyBox]] and software packages are thinned out and split into [[#Subpackages and missing functionality\|subpackages]]. This makes it small and very resource efficient. The [[BusyBox#BusyBox applets\|utilities in BusyBox]] tend to only implement standard options and lack GNU-specific extensions. This page explains how to get the utilities typically found in GNU/Linux distributions.

			Many utilities on this page are provided either by a package containing multiple collected utilities, or through a meta package. The [[Alpine Package Keeper\|apk info]] command and its various flags (<code>--provides</code>, <code>--depends</code>, <code>--who-owns</code>, etc) is useful for determining exactly what is provided by what.

	== Core utilities ==		== Core utilities ==

Apropos: Rename "Util-linux" section to "Linux utilities"

2026-04-11T23:55:56Z

Rename "Util-linux" section to "Linux utilities"

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:55, 11 April 2026
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	Most of the basic file, shell and text manipulation utilities commonly grouped under [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_GNU_Core_Utilities_commands Core Utilities] are provided by [[BusyBox]]. To replace it with GNU {{pkg\|coreutils}} package:{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|coreutils}}}}		Most of the basic file, shell and text manipulation utilities commonly grouped under [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_GNU_Core_Utilities_commands Core Utilities] are provided by [[BusyBox]]. To replace it with GNU {{pkg\|coreutils}} package:{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|coreutils}}}}

	== ~~Util-linux~~ ==		== Linux utilities ==

	A set of approximately 100 basic Linux system utilities not included in GNU Core Utilities, such as <code>mount</code>, <code>cfdisk</code>, <code>more</code>, <code>lsblk</code> and <code>kill</code> are maintained under [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Util-linux ~~Util~~-linux]. The {{pkg\|util-linux}} package is split into multiple subpackages, so it is possible to install only some of them individually. To have the complete {{pkg\|util-linux}} package:{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|util-linux}}}}		A set of approximately 100 basic Linux system utilities not included in GNU Core Utilities, such as <code>mount</code>, <code>cfdisk</code>, <code>more</code>, <code>lsblk</code> and <code>kill</code> are maintained under [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Util-linux util-linux]. The {{pkg\|util-linux}} package is split into multiple subpackages, so it is possible to install only some of them individually. To have the complete {{pkg\|util-linux}} package:{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|util-linux}}}}

	The full featured file pager utility <code>less</code> can be installed from the {{pkg\|less}} package.		The full featured file pager utility <code>less</code> can be installed from the {{pkg\|less}} package.

Apropos: Rewrite prose in Subpackages and missing functionality

2026-04-11T23:54:35Z

Rewrite prose in Subpackages and missing functionality

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:54, 11 April 2026
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	== Subpackages and missing functionality ==		== Subpackages and missing functionality ==

	When a package is installed in Alpine Linux, no assumption is made on what features the user wants, so [[Alpine_Package_Keeper#Subpackages\|subpackages]] are not installed by default. ~~The~~ user might get a false impression of missing functionality.		When a package is installed in Alpine Linux, no assumption is made as to what features the user wants, so [[Alpine_Package_Keeper#Subpackages\|subpackages]] are not installed by default. As such, the user might get a false impression of missing functionality.

	For ~~eg: The~~ {{pkg\|networkmanager}} package for [[NetworkManager]]~~, the standard network configuration tool~~ has 20+ subpackages based on features. If the user installs {{pkg\|networkmanager}} package ~~or {{pkg\|network-manager-applet}}~~ only the NetworkManager utility ~~and the applet~~ will get installed. To manage ~~Wifi~~ networks ~~or to~~ use commands like <~~Code~~>nmcli</~~Code~~> and <~~Code~~>nmtui</~~Code~~> the user is expected to add the required subpackages {{pkg\|networkmanager-wifi}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-cli}} ~~and~~ {{pkg\|networkmanager-tui}} respectively.		For example, the {{pkg\|networkmanager}} package for [[NetworkManager]] has 20+ subpackages based on features. If the user installs the {{pkg\|networkmanager}} package, ''only'' the NetworkManager utility will get installed. To manage Wi-Fi networks, use commands like <code>nmcli</code> and <code>nmtui</code>, or launch the GTK applet, the user is expected to add the required subpackages {{pkg\|networkmanager-wifi}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-cli}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-tui}}, and {{pkg\|network-manager-applet}} respectively.

	In other Linux distributions when NetworkManager is installed, all the above ~~features~~ plus bluetooth, adsl, wwan, ~~vpn~~, l2tp, ppp ~~etc~~ are automatically installed along with their dependencies.		This is in contrast to many other Linux distributions, where when NetworkManager is installed all the above functionality plus that of {{pkg\|networkmanager-bluetooth}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-adsl}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-wwan}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-openvpn}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-l2tp}}, {{pkg\|networkmanager-ppp}}, and the like are automatically installed, along with their dependencies.

	== Development environment ==		== Development environment ==
	{{Main\|~~Developer_Documentation~~}}		{{Main\|Developer Documentation}}
	Compiling in Alpine Linux may be more challenging because it uses [[Musl\|musl instead of glibc]]. The {{pkg\|build-base}} meta package provides regular compiler stuff such as {{pkg\|binutils}}, {{pkg\|gcc}}, {{pkg\|g++}}, {{pkg\|make}} etc..		Compiling in Alpine Linux may be more challenging because it uses [[Musl\|musl instead of glibc]]. The {{pkg\|build-base}} meta package provides regular compiler stuff such as {{pkg\|binutils}}, {{pkg\|gcc}}, {{pkg\|g++}}, {{pkg\|make}} etc..

Apropos: tweak appearance of link to musl libc page

2026-04-11T22:32:21Z

tweak appearance of link to musl libc page

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:32, 11 April 2026
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	Alpine Linux is built around [[Musl]] ~~libc~~ and [[BusyBox]] and software packages are thinned out and split into [[#Subpackages and missing functionality\|subpackages]]. This makes it small and very resource efficient. The [[BusyBox#BusyBox applets\|utilities in BusyBox]] tend to only implement standard options and lack GNU-specific extensions. This page explains how to get the utilities typically found in GNU/Linux distributions.		Alpine Linux is built around [[Musl\| musl libc]] and [[BusyBox]] and software packages are thinned out and split into [[#Subpackages and missing functionality\|subpackages]]. This makes it small and very resource efficient. The [[BusyBox#BusyBox applets\|utilities in BusyBox]] tend to only implement standard options and lack GNU-specific extensions. This page explains how to get the utilities typically found in GNU/Linux distributions.

	== Core utilities ==		== Core utilities ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:45, 12 April 2026
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	== Development environment ==		== Development environment ==
	{{Main\|Developer Documentation}}		{{Main\|Developer Documentation}}
	Compiling in Alpine Linux may be more challenging because it uses [[Musl\|musl instead of glibc]]. The {{pkg\|build-base}} meta package provides regular compiler stuff such as {{pkg\|binutils}}, {{pkg\|gcc}}, {{pkg\|g++}}, {{pkg\|make}} etc..		Compiling codebases in Alpine Linux may be more challenging because it uses [[Musl\|musl instead of glibc]]. The {{pkg\|build-base}} meta package provides regular compiler stuff such as {{pkg\|binutils}} (providing <code>ld</code>, <code>objdump</code>, <code>readelf</code>, etc...), {{pkg\|gcc}}, {{pkg\|g++}}, {{pkg\|make}}, etc...

	{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|build-base}}}}		{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|build-base}}}}

	The {{pkg\|alpine-sdk}} meta package is provided to build packages for Alpine Linux. It includes {{pkg\|abuild}}, {{pkg\|build-base}}, and {{pkg\|git}}.		The {{pkg\|alpine-sdk}} meta package is provided to build packages for Alpine Linux. It includes {{pkg\|abuild}}, {{pkg\|build-base}}, and {{pkg\|git}}.

	{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|alpine-sdk}}}}		{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|alpine-sdk}}}}

	~~To install CMake:~~		{{pkg\|cmake}} may be desirable to have installed.

	{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|cmake}} {{pkg\|extra-cmake-modules}}}}		{{Cmd\|# apk add {{pkg\|cmake}} {{pkg\|extra-cmake-modules}}}}