What Are Dependencies in Linux

If you've been working with Windows all your life, the concept of dependencies in Linux might initially seem confusing. In this article, we will take a detailed look at this topic and explain how dependencies affect package management.

Why Dependencies Are Needed

Dependencies in Linux are additional software components required for an application to install and run. Simply put, they are what a program needs to function properly. This is because Linux developers typically write programs in a modular way.

In Linux, a dependency is an external library or program that must be installed for another program to work correctly. For example, if you install a video player, it might require a library for handling video formats. Without this library, the program won't be able to play videos properly.

Linux has package managers (like APT in Ubuntu or pacman in Arch) that automatically install all the necessary dependencies for a program to work correctly.

How to Check Dependencies in Packages

Linux distribution package websites usually list the dependencies of packages in their descriptions. If the information is not there, you can check it yourself.

In Debian or Ubuntu, you can use the command:

apt show [package_name]

For Arch users, the command is:

pacman -Si [package_name]

In Fedora, the package manager is DNF. To check dependencies, run the following command in the terminal:

dnf deplist [package_name]

Dependencies in Linux are like invisible helpers without which programs cannot function. Understanding their importance opens up new opportunities for efficient software management and makes interacting with the system more predictable.