pkgfile is a command-line tool for searching for files that are included in packages in the official repositories on Arch-based systems. It is a useful tool for finding out which package a particular file belongs to or for searching for specific files that are included in packages.
When you install a package on an Arch-based system, all of the files associated with that package are installed on your system. pkgfile provides a way to search through the list of installed packages and find specific files that are included in those packages. This can be useful if you need to locate a file that you know is part of a specific package, or if you’re trying to troubleshoot an issue and need to locate a specific file on your system.
To use pkgfile, you simply need to provide the name of the file or files that you’re searching for. pkgfile will then search through the list of packages in the official repositories and return the name of the package that includes the file or files that you’re searching for.
One of the advantages of pkgfile is that it is very fast and efficient. It maintains a database of all of the files that are included in packages in the official repositories, which makes searching for files very fast. Additionally, pkgfile is designed to work seamlessly with pacman, the Arch Linux package manager. This means that you can easily search for files using pkgfile and then use pacman to install or upgrade the package that contains the files that you need.
pkgfile Command Examples
1. Synchronize the pkgfile database:
# sudo pkgfile --update
2. Search for a package that owns a specific file:
# pkgfile filename
3. List all files provided by a package:
# pkgfile --list package_name
4. List only files provided by a package located within the `bin` or `sbin` directory:
# pkgfile --list --binaries package_name
5. Search for a package that owns a specific file using case-insensitive matching:
# pkgfile --ignorecase filename
6. Search for a package that owns a specific file in the `bin` or `sbin` directory:
# pkgfile --binaries filename
7. Search for a package that owns a specific file, displaying the package version:
# pkgfile --verbose filename
8. Search for a package that owns a specific file in a specific repository:
# pkgfile --repo repository_name filename
Summary
Overall, pkgfile is a useful tool for searching for files on Arch-based systems. It is fast, efficient, and easy to use, and it provides a convenient way to search through the list of packages in the official repositories to find specific files. If you’re using an Arch-based system and need to search for files on your system, pkgfile is definitely worth considering.