apt

# install something from experimental repo
# http://wiki.debian.org/DebianExperimental

# create this file /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/default 
APT::Default-Release "testing";

#add this to your sources.list
deb ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian experimental main

#run like this
aptitude -t experimental install amarok






#http://qref.sourceforge.net/quick/ch-package.en.html
dpkg {-S|--search} pattern
dlocate filename
     # apt-get   check           # update cache and check for broken packages
     $ apt-cache search  pattern # search package from text description
     $ apt-cache policy  package # package priority/dists information
     $ apt-cache show -a package # show description of package in all dists
     $ apt-cache showsrc package # show description of matching source package
     $ apt-cache showpkg package # package information for debugging
     # dpkg  --audit|-C          # search for partially installed packages
     $ dpkg {-s|--status} package ... # description of installed package
     $ dpkg -l package ...       # status of installed package (1 line each)
     $ dpkg -L package ...       # list filenames installed by the package


     $ apt-show-versions | fgrep /testing | wc
     ... how many packages you have from testing
     $ apt-show-versions -u
     ... list of upgradeable packages
     $ aptitude install `apt-show-versions -u -b | fgrep /unstable`
     ... upgrade all unstable packages to their newest versions


record
     # dpkg --get-selections "*" >myselections   # or use \*
     # debconf-get-selections > debconfsel.txt
reload
     # dselect update
     # debconf-set-selections < debconfsel.txt
     # dpkg --set-selections <myselections
     # apt-get -u dselect-upgrade    # or dselect install


.aptitude/config: aptitude::Recommends-Important "false";
.aptitude/config: aptitude::Ignore-Recommends-Important "true";
.aptitude/config: APT::AutoRemove::RecommendsImportant "false";
.aptitude/config: APT::Install-Recommends "false";
.aptitude/config: APT::Install-Suggests "false";