How to get regular stuff working: Difference between revisions
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Alpine Linux is built around [[Musl]] libc and [[BusyBox]]. This makes it small and very resource efficient. The utilities in BusyBox generally have fewer options and hence missing some extended functionality. This page explains how to get the regular utilities working as found in GNU/Linux distributions. | |||
== Core utilities == | == Core utilities == | ||
{{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 original {{pkg|coreutils}} package: | 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 original {{pkg|coreutils}} package:{{Cmd|# apk add {{pkg|coreutils}}}} | ||
== 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}}}} | |||
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]. 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. | ||
== Search utilities == | == Search utilities == | ||
Standard search tools <code>grep</code> and <code>find</code> can be installed by installing the packages {{pkg|grep}} and {{pkg|findutils}} as follows: | |||
{{Cmd|# apk add {{pkg|grep}} {{pkg|findutils}} }} | Standard search tools <code>grep</code> and <code>find</code> can be installed by installing the packages {{pkg|grep}} and {{pkg|findutils}} as follows:{{Cmd|# apk add {{pkg|grep}} {{pkg|findutils}} }} | ||
== Bash shell == | == Bash shell == | ||
{{Main|Change default shell}} | {{Main|Change default shell}} | ||
The default shell used by Alpine Linux is the busybox variant of the [[BusyBox#Ash_shell|ash shell]]. To install {{pkg|bash}}: | The default shell used by Alpine Linux is the busybox variant of the [[BusyBox#Ash_shell|ash shell]]. To install {{pkg|bash}} shell: {{Cmd|# apk add {{pkg|bash}} {{pkg|bash-completion}}}} | ||
{{Cmd|# apk add {{pkg|bash}} {{pkg|bash-completion}}}} | |||
== Hardware Management == | == Hardware Management == | ||
{{Cmd|# apk add {{pkg|pciutils}} {{pkg|usbutils}}}} | Install {{pkg|pciutils}} and {{pkg|usbutils}} for identifying and configuring PCI and USB hardware using the full featured version of <code>lspci</code> and <code>lsusb</code> commands respectively. {{Cmd|# apk add {{pkg|pciutils}} {{pkg|usbutils}}}} | ||
The packages {{pkg|hwdata-pci}} and {{pkg|hwdata-usb}} are dependencies for the above utilities and they are installed automatically. | 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. | ||
== Disk Management == | == Disk Management == | ||
Managing (removable) disks is much easier with udisks. | Managing (removable) disks is much easier with udisks. {{Cmd|# apk add {{pkg|udisks2}}}} | ||
To see the mounted disks:{{Cmd|# udisksctl status}} | |||
== Network Management == | |||
{{Cmd|# apk add {{pkg| | For network, you may want to install {{pkg|iproute2}}. {{Cmd|# apk add {{pkg|iproute2}}}} | ||
== 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. Alpine Linux [https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org package database] page shows the list of available subpackages. | |||
For eg: [[NetworkManager]], the standard network configuration tool is split into 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 network, | |||
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. | |||
== Development environment == | == Development environment == | ||
Compiling in Alpine may be more challenging because it uses [https://musl.libc.org/ musl-libc] instead of glibc. | Compiling in Alpine Linux may be more challenging because it uses [https://musl.libc.org/ musl-libc] instead of glibc. The {{pkg|build-base}} meta package provides regular compiler stuff such as {{pkg|binutils}}, {{pkg|gcc}}, {{pkg|g++}}, {{pkg|make}} etc.. | ||
{{Cmd|# apk add {{pkg| | {{Cmd|# apk add {{pkg|build-base}}}} | ||
The {{pkg|alpine-sdk}} meta package is provided to build packages for Alpine. 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}}}} | ||
| Line 57: | Line 58: | ||
{{Cmd|# apk add {{pkg|cmake}} {{pkg|extra-cmake-modules}}}} | {{Cmd|# apk add {{pkg|cmake}} {{pkg|extra-cmake-modules}}}} | ||
{{pkg|ccache}} and a lot other tools are also available in Alpine. | {{pkg|ccache}} and a lot other tools are also available in Alpine Linux. | ||
[[Category:Installation]] | [[Category:Installation]] | ||
[[category: System Administration]] | |||
Latest revision as of 03:16, 29 March 2025
Alpine Linux is built around Musl libc and BusyBox. This makes it small and very resource efficient. The utilities in BusyBox generally have fewer options and hence missing some extended functionality. This page explains how to get the regular utilities working as found in GNU/Linux distributions.
Core utilities
Most of the basic file, shell and text manipulation utilities commonly grouped under Core Utilities are provided by BusyBox. To replace it with original coreutils package:
# apk add coreutils
Util-linux
A set of approximately 100 basic Linux system utilities not included in GNU Core Utilities, such as mount, cfdisk, more, lsblk and kill are maintained under Util-linux. The util-linux package is split into multiple subpackages, so it is possible to install only some of them individually. To have the complete util-linux package:
# apk add util-linux
The full featured file pager utility less can be installed from the less package.
Search utilities
Standard search tools grep and find can be installed by installing the packages grep and findutils as follows:
Bash shell
The default shell used by Alpine Linux is the busybox variant of the ash shell. To install bash shell:
# apk add bash bash-completion
Hardware Management
Install pciutils and usbutils for identifying and configuring PCI and USB hardware using the full featured version of lspci and lsusb commands respectively.
The packages hwdata-pci and 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.
Disk Management
Managing (removable) disks is much easier with udisks.
# apk add udisks2
To see the mounted disks:
# udisksctl status
Network Management
For network, you may want to install iproute2.
# apk add iproute2
Subpackages and missing functionality
When a package is installed in Alpine Linux, no assumption is made on what features the user wants, so subpackages are not installed by default. The user might get a false impression of missing functionality. Alpine Linux package database page shows the list of available subpackages.
For eg: NetworkManager, the standard network configuration tool is split into 20+ subpackages based on features. If the user installs networkmanager package or network-manager-applet only the NetworkManager utility and the applet will get installed. To manage Wifi networks or to use commands like nmcli and nmtui the user is expected to add the required subpackages networkmanager-wifi, networkmanager-cli and networkmanager-tui 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.
Development environment
Compiling in Alpine Linux may be more challenging because it uses musl-libc instead of glibc. The build-base meta package provides regular compiler stuff such as binutils, gcc, g++, make etc..
# apk add build-base
The alpine-sdk meta package is provided to build packages for Alpine Linux. It includes abuild, build-base, and git.
# apk add alpine-sdk
To install CMake:
# apk add cmake extra-cmake-modules
ccache and a lot other tools are also available in Alpine Linux.