dpkg - a package maintenance utility for Debian and Debian-based Linux distributions including Ubuntu.
In terms of end-user experience, aptitude or synaptic are encouraged as the go-to package managers. These tools provide a more sophisticated way of dealing with package relationships and a friendlier interface. The Debian package "dpkg" provides the dpkg program, as well as other necessary programs like dpkg-statoverride, dpkg-divert, and update-alternatives which help with run-time functioning of the packaging system. Start-stop-daemon and install-info are also included in this package, with the latter being kept mainly due to backwards compatibility (it is developed and distributed separately nowadays).
If you want to install a .deb package, the example use is quite straightforward with dpkg: simply use the "dpkg -i deb file name" command. To get a list of installed packages, use "dpkg -l" with an optional pattern. Alternatively, to remove an installed package, use "dpkg -r package name". Overall, dpkg is a powerful tool for package management that is especially useful for developers or users who want to take a more hands-on approach to package installation, removal, and maintenance.
Version 1.13.25 / 1.14.20: N/A