How to Uninstall Package in Linux

Sometimes we install programs or files and later want to delete them. For example installing a package using the following terminal: sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop. However upon using 'rm' in order to delete this, we get the following message:

xxxx@xxxx-laptop:~$ sudo rm kubuntu-desktop rm: can not remove 'kubuntu-desktop':.....

. In this guide we will show you how to resolve this issue.

Solution

First, you must understand the use of apt-get or rm.

• apt-get allows you to manage packages and dependencies. It is accompanied by a wide range of commands in order to do its job.
• To uninstall a package, we use apt-get:
• sudo => to do as administrator
• apt-get => ask for apt-get to do
• remove => remove
• kubuntu-desktop => the package to remove

  • sudo apt-get remove kubuntu-desktop

• rm is a command to delete files or folders. For example I want to delete the test.txt file stored at the root of my personal file:

  • rm /home/username/test.txt

• to delete the xxx file in the same location:

  • rm -r /home/username/xxx

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