Score:2

Apt wildcard issue

ru flag

Why does apt take file names in current directory as package names? When i try to apt install boinc* i see "E: Unable to locate package boinc_ubuntu_7.16.6_x86_64-pc-linux-gnu.sh"

user535733 avatar
cn flag
The use of wildcards with apt can cause unexpected surprises...like the wrong package(s) being downloaded and installed. If you don't know the name of a package, there are plenty of existing tools to clarify and provide the exact name you seek. Those tools just take a moment to check.
Score:3
cn flag
jjg

That's because wildcards are run in the shell, when you do

apt-get install foo-*

then the shell expands that to

apt-get install foo-bar.zip foo-doc.tex

depending on what's in the current directory, and it is that command which is run. Generally, if a utility accepts wildcards, then you'd need to quote or escape them to stop this shell expansion

apt-get install 'foo-*'
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