Package updates

A modern Gentoo system requires regular updates to function as designed.

The system should be updated at least once a week but no more than once a day.

Instructions

  1. Open your terminal emulator as the root user (either directly or with su if logged-in as a regular user).
  2. Connect to the Internet if disconnected.
  3. Synchronize currently eselected package repositories with emaint sync.
  4. Update packages with emerge -avuDN --with-bdeps=y @world. Proceed when prompted if the provided update list appears fine.
  5. Update USE flag requirements through dispatch-conf if changes are required, and restart with emerge -avuDN --with-bdeps=y @world.
  6. Wait for package updates to finish.
  7. If there are new news items, read them with eselect news read and follow the provided instructions for any necessary changes.
  8. Remove obsolete packages with emerge -c.

Tips

  1. The --with-bdeps=y keyword updates build dependencies, but this is often uneccessary and can be omitted if desired.
  2. There’s many ways to update USE flags. dispatch-conf is the most straightforward way since it is included with Portage, and these changes can be further edited after USE flags have been updated.

Sources

  1. Ebuild repository. The Gentoo Wiki. Accessed 2024-02-21. https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Ebuild_repository/en.
  2. News Items. The Gentoo Development Guide. Accessed 2024-02-21. https://devmanual.gentoo.org/general-concepts/news/index.html.