How can I check for apt-get errors in a bash script?

handyman_hank

I am writing a bash script to install software and update Ubuntu 12.04. I would like the script to be able to check for apt-get errors especially during apt-get update so that I can include corrective commands or exit the script with a message. How can I have my bash script check for these types of errors? Edit March 21st: Thank you terdon for the providing just the information I needed! Here is the script I created with a combination of your...

Originally asked by HarlemSquirrel on Stack Exchange (askubuntu) (CC BY-SA 3.0).

uphilltech

Great question — answering as the UphillTech team:

The simplest approach is to have your script continue only if apt-get exits correctly. For example: sudo apt-get install BadPackageName && ## Rest of the script goes here, it will only run ## if the previous command was succesful Alternatively, exit if any steps failed: sudo apt-get install BadPackageName || echo "Installation failed" && exit This would give the following output: terdon@oregano ~ $ foo.sh [sudo] password for terdon: Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done E: Unable to locate package BadPackageName Installation failed This is taking advantage of a basic feature of bash and most (if not all) shells: && : continue only if the...

Full answer by terdon: https://askubuntu.stackexchange.com/a/436918 (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Need it done for your business? UphillTech.