from small one page howto to huge articles all in one place

search text in:




Other .linuxhowtos.org sites: www.linuxhowtos.org
toolsntoys.linuxhowtos.org



Last additions:
How to make X listen on port 6000

How to make X listen on port 6000

words:

34

views:

84485

userrating:

average rating: 1.2 (52 votes) (1=very good 6=terrible)


May, 25th 2007:
April, 26th 2007:
Apr, 10th. 2007:
Druckversion . pdf icon
You are here: Tips&Tricks

Querying Portage with etcat

This tip shows you how to use the etcat command to retrieve information on Portage, USE flags, package versions, and much more.

While there are other package query utilities such as qpkg or epm, etcat has some unique features. Some of these features include the ability to display the amount of disk space a particular package is using, the USE flags the package was compiled with, and the versions available for a package.

The first step is installing the app-admin/gentoolkit package from Portage. This installs etcat (among other utilities) to /usr/bin/.

Code Listing 1: Getting etcat>

# emerge app-admin/gentoolkit

To view the size of the package, use etcat size [package].

Code Listing 2: Displaying the size of a package

# etcat size mozilla
[ Results for search key : mozilla ]
[ Applications found : 4 ]  
  
 Only printing found installed programs.  
  
* mozilla-firebird-bin-0.5  
           Total Files : 338  
            Total Size : 20925.18 KB  
* mozilla-1.3-r1  
           Total Files : 3155  
            Total Size : 52073.05 KB  
  
# etcat size evolution  
[ Results for search key : evolution ]  
[ Applications found : 1 ]  
  
 Only printing found installed programs.  
  
* evolution-1.2.4  
           Total Files : 1421  
            Total Size : 33456.65 KB  
  
# etcat size fluxbox  
[ Results for search key : fluxbox ]  
[ Applications found : 1 ]  
  
 Only printing found installed programs.  
  
* fluxbox-0.1.14-r1  
           Total Files : 26  
            Total Size : 806.92 KB

To look at the USE flags a package was compiled with, use etcat uses [package]. For example, the following command shows which USE flags Postfix was compiled with.

Code Listing 3: Displaying USE flags

# etcat uses net-mail/postfix  
[ Colour Code : set unset ]  
[ Legend      : (U) Col 1 - Current USE flags        ]  
[             : (I) Col 2 - Installed With USE flags ]  
  
 U I [ Found these USE variables in : net-mail/postfix-2.0.9 ]  
 + + ssl     : Adds support for Secure Socket Layer connections  
 + + mysql   : Adds mySQL support  
 + + sasl    : Adds support for the Simple Authentication and Security Layer  
 + + ldap    : Adds LDAP support (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol)  
 - - ipv6    : Adds support for IP version 6  
 - - maildir : Adds support for maildir (~/.maildir) style mail spools  
 - - mbox    : Adds support for mbox (/var/spool/mail) style mail spools  
  
# etcat uses fluxbox  
[ Colour Code : set unset ]  
[ Legend      : (U) Col 1 - Current USE flags        ]  
[             : (I) Col 2 - Installed With USE flags ]  
  
 U I [ Found these USE variables in : x11-wm/fluxbox-0.1.14-r1 ]  
 - - kde      : Adds support for kde-base/kde (K Desktop Enviroment)  
 + + gnome    : Adds GNOME support  
 + + nls      : unknown  
 + - xinerama : Add support for XFree86's xinerama extension,
                which allows you to stretch  your display across
                multiple monitors  
 + + truetype : Adds support for FreeType and/or FreeType2 fonts

To see which versions of a specific package are available, use etcat versions [package]

Code Listing 4: Displaying available package versions

# etcat versions kde-base/kde  
[ Results for search key : kde-base/kde ]  
[ Applications found : 1 ]  
  
*  kde-base/kde :  
        [   ] kde-base/kde-2.2.2-r1 (2)  
        [   ] kde-base/kde-3.0.4 (3.0)  
        [   ] kde-base/kde-3.0.5a (3.0)  
        [   ] kde-base/kde-3.0.5b (3.0)  
        [   ] kde-base/kde-3.1.1a (3.1)  
        [   ] kde-base/kde-3.1.1 (3.1)  
        [   ] kde-base/kde-3.1.2 (3.1)  
        [   ] kde-base/kde-3.1 (3.1)  
  
# etcat versions net-mail/evolution  
[ Results for search key : net-mail/evolution ]  
[ Applications found : 1 ]  
  
*  net-mail/evolution :  
        [   ] net-mail/evolution-1.2.3 (0)  
        [  I] net-mail/evolution-1.2.4 (0)  
        [M~ ] net-mail/evolution-1.3.92 (2)  
        [M~ ] net-mail/evolution-1.4.0 (0)  
  
# etcat versions net-www/apache  
[ Results for search key : net-www/apache ]  
[ Applications found : 1 ]  
  
*  net-www/apache :  
        [   ] net-www/apache-1.3.27 (1)  
        [   ] net-www/apache-1.3.27-r1 (1)  
        [M~ ] net-www/apache-1.3.27-r2 (1)  
        [   ] net-www/apache-1.3.27-r3 (1)  
        [M~ ] net-www/apache-1.3.27-r4 (1)  
        [M~ ] net-www/apache-2.0.43-r1 (2)  
        [M~ ] net-www/apache-2.0.44 (2)  
        [M~ ] net-www/apache-2.0.45 (2)  
        [M~I] net-www/apache-2.0.46 (2)

Note: If you don't specify the category, etcat will try to find all possible matches in Portage. If the package name is common or occurs in many other package names, you may get a lot more output that you wanted.

For more detailed information, type man etcat. For a quick overview of available options, just type etcat.

From http://www.gentoo.org/news/en/gwn/20030623-newsletter.xml

back



Support us on Content Nation

New Packages

- as rdf newsfeed
- as rss newsfeed
- as Atom newsfeed
2026-04-19
chrome-binary-plugins - 149.0.7795.2_alpha
Ebuild name:

www-plugins/chrome-binary-plugins-149.0.7795.2_alpha

Description

Binary plugins from Google Chrome for use in C

Added to portage

2026-04-19

google-chrome-unstable - 149.0.7795.2
Ebuild name:

www-client/google-chrome-unstable-149.0.7795.2

Description

The web browser from Google

Added to portage

2026-04-19

lmod - 9.0.8
Ebuild name:

sys-cluster/lmod-9.0.8

Description

Environment Module System based on Lua

Added to portage

2026-04-19

lmod - 9.1.2
Ebuild name:

sys-cluster/lmod-9.1.2

Description

Environment Module System based on Lua

Added to portage

2026-04-19

lmod - 9.2
Ebuild name:

sys-cluster/lmod-9.2

Description

Environment Module System based on Lua

Added to portage

2026-04-19

openssl-compat - 3.6.2
Ebuild name:

dev-libs/openssl-compat-3.6.2

Description

Full-strength general purpose cryptography library (including SSL and

Added to portage

2026-04-19

vivaldi-snapshot - 7.10.4009.3
Ebuild name:

www-client/vivaldi-snapshot-7.10.4009.3

Description

A browser for our friends

Added to portage

2026-04-19

2026-04-18
alectryon - 2.0.0
Ebuild name:

sci-mathematics/alectryon-2.0.0

Description

Toolkit for literate programming in Coq/Rocq

Added to portage

2026-04-18

autoconf-dickey - 2.52_p20260412
Ebuild name:

dev-build/autoconf-dickey-2.52_p20260412

Description

Fork of dev-build/autoconf for Thomas Dickey's packages

Added to portage

2026-04-18

awscli - 1.44.81
Ebuild name:

app-admin/awscli-1.44.81

Description

Universal Command Line Environment for AWS

Added to portage

2026-04-18

boto3 - 1.42.91
Ebuild name:

dev-python/boto3-1.42.91

Description

The AWS SDK for Python

Added to portage

2026-04-18

botocore - 1.42.91
Ebuild name:

dev-python/botocore-1.42.91

Description

Low-level, data-driven core of boto 3

Added to portage

2026-04-18

cargo-audit - 0.22.1
Ebuild name:

dev-util/cargo-audit-0.22.1

Description

Audit Cargo.lock for crates with security vulnerabilities

Added to portage

2026-04-18

ceph - 20.2.1
Ebuild name:

sys-cluster/ceph-20.2.1

Description

Ceph distributed filesystem

Added to portage

2026-04-18

cflow - 1.8
Ebuild name:

dev-util/cflow-1.8

Description

C function call hierarchy analyzer

Added to portage

2026-04-18

clojure-clr - 1.12.2
Ebuild name:

dev-lang/clojure-clr-1.12.2

Description

Port of the functional programming language Clojure to the CLR and .NET

Added to portage

2026-04-18

csharp-language-server - 0.24.0
Ebuild name:

dev-dotnet/csharp-language-server-0.24.0

Description

Roslyn-based LSP language server for C

Added to portage

2026-04-18

diffstat - 1.69
Ebuild name:

dev-util/diffstat-1.69

Description

Display a histogram of diff changes

Added to portage

2026-04-18

dist-kernel - 5.10.253
Ebuild name:

virtual/dist-kernel-5.10.253

Description

Virtual to depend on any Distribution Kernel

Added to portage

2026-04-18

dist-kernel - 5.15.203
Ebuild name:

virtual/dist-kernel-5.15.203

Description

Virtual to depend on any Distribution Kernel

Added to portage

2026-04-18

dist-kernel - 6.1.169
Ebuild name:

virtual/dist-kernel-6.1.169

Description

Virtual to depend on any Distribution Kernel

Added to portage

2026-04-18

dist-kernel - 6.12.82
Ebuild name:

virtual/dist-kernel-6.12.82

Description

Virtual to depend on any Distribution Kernel

Added to portage

2026-04-18

dist-kernel - 6.18.23
Ebuild name:

virtual/dist-kernel-6.18.23

Description

Virtual to depend on any Distribution Kernel

Added to portage

2026-04-18

dist-kernel - 6.19.13
Ebuild name:

virtual/dist-kernel-6.19.13

Description

Virtual to depend on any Distribution Kernel

Added to portage

2026-04-18

dist-kernel - 6.6.135
Ebuild name:

virtual/dist-kernel-6.6.135

Description

Virtual to depend on any Distribution Kernel

Added to portage

2026-04-18

drawio-desktop-bin - 29.6.6
Ebuild name:

app-office/drawio-desktop-bin-29.6.6

Description

draw.io diagramming and whiteboarding desktop app

Added to portage

2026-04-18

faker - 40.14.1
Ebuild name:

dev-python/faker-40.14.1

Description

A Python package that generates fake data for you

Added to portage

2026-04-18

fj-cli - 0.5.0
Ebuild name:

dev-util/fj-cli-0.5.0

Description

CLI tool for Forgejo

Added to portage

2026-04-18

flask-caching - 2.4.0
Ebuild name:

dev-python/flask-caching-2.4.0

Description

Adds caching support to Flask applications

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gamescope - 3.16.23
Ebuild name:

gui-wm/gamescope-3.16.23

Description

Efficient micro-compositor for running games

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gcc - 13.4.1_p20260416
Ebuild name:

sys-devel/gcc-13.4.1_p20260416

Description

The GNU Compiler Collection

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gcc - 14.3.1_p20260417
Ebuild name:

sys-devel/gcc-14.3.1_p20260417

Description

The GNU Compiler Collection

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gentoo-kernel - 5.10.253
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-5.10.253

Description

Linux kernel built with Gentoo patches

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gentoo-kernel - 5.15.203
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-5.15.203

Description

Linux kernel built with Gentoo patches

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gentoo-kernel - 6.1.169
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-6.1.169

Description

Linux kernel built with Gentoo patches

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gentoo-kernel - 6.12.82
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-6.12.82

Description

Linux kernel built with Gentoo patches

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gentoo-kernel - 6.18.23
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-6.18.23

Description

Linux kernel built with Gentoo patches

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gentoo-kernel - 6.19.13
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-6.19.13

Description

Linux kernel built with Gentoo patches

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gentoo-kernel - 6.6.135
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-6.6.135

Description

Linux kernel built with Gentoo patches

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gentoo-kernel-bin - 5.10.253
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-bin-5.10.253

Description

Pre-built Linux kernel with Gentoo patches

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gentoo-kernel-bin - 5.15.203
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-bin-5.15.203

Description

Pre-built Linux kernel with Gentoo patches

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gentoo-kernel-bin - 6.1.169
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-bin-6.1.169

Description

Pre-built Linux kernel with Gentoo patches

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gentoo-kernel-bin - 6.12.82
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-bin-6.12.82

Description

Pre-built Linux kernel with Gentoo patches

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gentoo-kernel-bin - 6.18.23
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-bin-6.18.23

Description

Pre-built Linux kernel with Gentoo patches

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gentoo-kernel-bin - 6.19.13
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-bin-6.19.13

Description

Pre-built Linux kernel with Gentoo patches

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gentoo-kernel-bin - 6.6.135
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-bin-6.6.135

Description

Pre-built Linux kernel with Gentoo patches

Added to portage

2026-04-18

gzip - 1.14_p20260418
Ebuild name:

app-arch/gzip-1.14_p20260418

Description

Standard GNU compressor

Added to portage

2026-04-18

hg-git - 1.2.0_p20260328
Ebuild name:

dev-vcs/hg-git-1.2.0_p20260328

Description

push to and pull from a Git repository using Mercurial

Added to portage

2026-04-18

identify - 2.6.19
Ebuild name:

dev-python/identify-2.6.19

Description

File identification library for Python

Added to portage

2026-04-18

indent - 2.2.13-r1
Ebuild name:

dev-util/indent-2.2.13-r1

Description

Indent program source files

Added to portage

2026-04-18

ktextaddons - 2.0.1-r1
Ebuild name:

dev-libs/ktextaddons-2.0.1-r1

Description

Various text handling addons

Added to portage

2026-04-18

lcms - 2.18
Ebuild name:

media-libs/lcms-2.18

Description

A lightweight, speed optimized color management engine

Added to portage

2026-04-18

ldap-proxy - 0.1.4
Ebuild name:

net-nds/ldap-proxy-0.1.4

Description

A fast, simple, in-memory caching proxy for ldap

Added to portage

2026-04-18

lean - 4.24.0
Ebuild name:

sci-mathematics/lean-4.24.0

Description

The Lean Theorem Prover

Added to portage

2026-04-18

libburn - 1.5.8
Ebuild name:

dev-libs/libburn-1.5.8

Description

Open-source library for reading, mastering and writing optical discs

Added to portage

2026-04-18

libisoburn - 1.5.8
Ebuild name:

dev-libs/libisoburn-1.5.8

Description

Creation/expansion of ISO-9660 filesystems on CD/DVD media supported by l

Added to portage

2026-04-18

libisofs - 1.5.8_p1
Ebuild name:

dev-libs/libisofs-1.5.8_p1

Description

Open-source library for reading, mastering and writing optical discs

Added to portage

2026-04-18

lmod - 8.7.67
Ebuild name:

sys-cluster/lmod-8.7.67

Description

Environment Module System based on Lua

Added to portage

2026-04-18

mac - 12.67
Ebuild name:

media-sound/mac-12.67

Description

Monkey's Audio Codecs

Added to portage

2026-04-18

marisa - 0.3.1-r1
Ebuild name:

dev-libs/marisa-0.3.1-r1

Description

Matching Algorithm with Recursively Implemented StorAge

Added to portage

2026-04-18

mediafile - 0.16.2
Ebuild name:

dev-python/mediafile-0.16.2

Description

Read and write audio files' tags in Python

Added to portage

2026-04-18

meson - 1.11.0
Ebuild name:

dev-build/meson-1.11.0

Description

Open source build system

Added to portage

2026-04-18

mimetreeparser - 26.04.0-r1
Ebuild name:

kde-apps/mimetreeparser-26.04.0-r1

Description

Libraries for messaging functions

Added to portage

2026-04-18

motif - 2.5.2
Ebuild name:

x11-libs/motif-2.5.2

Description

The Motif user interface component toolkit

Added to portage

2026-04-18

ncurses - 6.6_p20260411
Ebuild name:

sys-libs/ncurses-6.6_p20260411

Description

Console display library

Added to portage

2026-04-18

nprolog - 5.11
Ebuild name:

dev-lang/nprolog-5.11

Description

Interpreter and compiler to be compatible with Arity/Prolog32

Added to portage

2026-04-18

nprolog - 5.15
Ebuild name:

dev-lang/nprolog-5.15

Description

Interpreter and compiler to be compatible with Arity/Prolog32

Added to portage

2026-04-18

nss - 3.123
Ebuild name:

dev-libs/nss-3.123

Description

Mozilla's Network Security Services library that implements PKI support

Added to portage

2026-04-18

openpgp-keys-bcl - 20260418
Ebuild name:

sec-keys/openpgp-keys-bcl-20260418

Description

OpenPGP keys used by Brian C. Lane

Added to portage

2026-04-18

openrazer - 3.12.2
Ebuild name:

sys-apps/openrazer-3.12.2

Description

Drivers and user-space daemon to control Razer devices on GNU/Linux

Added to portage

2026-04-18

parted - 3.7
Ebuild name:

sys-block/parted-3.7

Description

Create, destroy, resize, check, copy partitions and file systems

Added to portage

2026-04-18

pelican-minify - 2.0.2
Ebuild name:

dev-python/pelican-minify-2.0.2

Description

An HTML minification plugin for Pelican, the static site generator

Added to portage

2026-04-18

pyamg - 5.3.0-r1
Ebuild name:

dev-python/pyamg-5.3.0-r1

Description

Algebraic multigrid solvers in Python

Added to portage

2026-04-18

pydantic - 2.13.2
Ebuild name:

dev-python/pydantic-2.13.2

Description

Data parsing and validation using Python type hints

Added to portage

2026-04-18

ruff - 0.15.11
Ebuild name:

dev-util/ruff-0.15.11

Description

An extremely fast Python linter, written in Rust

Added to portage

2026-04-18

rust - 1.95.0
Ebuild name:

dev-lang/rust-1.95.0

Description

Systems programming language originally developed by Mozilla

Added to portage

2026-04-18

rust-bin - 1.95.0
Ebuild name:

dev-lang/rust-bin-1.95.0

Description

Added to portage

2026-04-18

rust-common - 1.95.0
Ebuild name:

dev-lang/rust-common-1.95.0

Description

Common files shared between multiple slots of Rust

Added to portage

2026-04-18

rust-std - 1.95.0
Ebuild name:

sys-devel/rust-std-1.95.0

Description

Rust standard library, standalone (for crossdev)

Added to portage

2026-04-18

rustup - 1.29.0
Ebuild name:

dev-util/rustup-1.29.0

Description

Rust toolchain installer

Added to portage

2026-04-18

simdjson - 4.6.2
Ebuild name:

dev-libs/simdjson-4.6.2

Description

SIMD accelerated C++ JSON library

Added to portage

2026-04-18

spectacle - 6.6.4-r1
Ebuild name:

kde-plasma/spectacle-6.6.4-r1

Description

Screenshot capture utility

Added to portage

2026-04-18

strawberry - 1.2.19
Ebuild name:

media-sound/strawberry-1.2.19

Description

Modern music player and library organizer based on Clementine and Qt

Added to portage

2026-04-18

swig - 4.4.1
Ebuild name:

dev-lang/swig-4.4.1

Description

Simplified Wrapper and Interface Generator

Added to portage

2026-04-18

typescript - 6.0.3
Ebuild name:

dev-lang/typescript-6.0.3

Description

Superset of JavaScript with optional static typing, classes and interface

Added to portage

2026-04-18

valgrind - 3.27.0_rc2
Ebuild name:

dev-debug/valgrind-3.27.0_rc2

Description

An open-source memory debugger for GNU/Linux

Added to portage

2026-04-18

vanilla-kernel - 5.10.253
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/vanilla-kernel-5.10.253

Description

Linux kernel built from vanilla upstream sources

Added to portage

2026-04-18

vanilla-kernel - 5.15.203
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/vanilla-kernel-5.15.203

Description

Linux kernel built from vanilla upstream sources

Added to portage

2026-04-18

vanilla-kernel - 6.1.169
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/vanilla-kernel-6.1.169

Description

Linux kernel built from vanilla upstream sources

Added to portage

2026-04-18

vanilla-kernel - 6.12.82
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/vanilla-kernel-6.12.82

Description

Linux kernel built from vanilla upstream sources

Added to portage

2026-04-18

vanilla-kernel - 6.18.23
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/vanilla-kernel-6.18.23

Description

Linux kernel built from vanilla upstream sources

Added to portage

2026-04-18

vanilla-kernel - 6.19.13
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/vanilla-kernel-6.19.13

Description

Linux kernel built from vanilla upstream sources

Added to portage

2026-04-18

vanilla-kernel - 6.6.135
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/vanilla-kernel-6.6.135

Description

Linux kernel built from vanilla upstream sources

Added to portage

2026-04-18

vanilla-sources - 5.10.253
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/vanilla-sources-5.10.253

Description

Full sources for the Linux kernel

Added to portage

2026-04-18

vanilla-sources - 5.15.203
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/vanilla-sources-5.15.203

Description

Full sources for the Linux kernel

Added to portage

2026-04-18

vanilla-sources - 6.1.169
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/vanilla-sources-6.1.169

Description

Full sources for the Linux kernel

Added to portage

2026-04-18

vanilla-sources - 6.12.82
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/vanilla-sources-6.12.82

Description

Full sources for the Linux kernel

Added to portage

2026-04-18

vanilla-sources - 6.18.23
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/vanilla-sources-6.18.23

Description

Full sources for the Linux kernel

Added to portage

2026-04-18

vanilla-sources - 6.19.13
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/vanilla-sources-6.19.13

Description

Full sources for the Linux kernel

Added to portage

2026-04-18

vanilla-sources - 6.6.135
Ebuild name:

sys-kernel/vanilla-sources-6.6.135

Description

Full sources for the Linux kernel

Added to portage

2026-04-18

webkit-gtk - 2.52.2-r410
Ebuild name:

net-libs/webkit-gtk-2.52.2-r410

Description

Open source web browser engine

Added to portage

2026-04-18

webkit-gtk - 2.52.2-r600
Ebuild name:

net-libs/webkit-gtk-2.52.2-r600

Description

Open source web browser engine

Added to portage

2026-04-18

wine-vanilla - 11.7
Ebuild name:

app-emulation/wine-vanilla-11.7

Description

Free implementation of Windows(tm) on Unix, without external patchs

Added to portage

2026-04-18

wrapt - 2.2.0_rc10
Ebuild name:

dev-python/wrapt-2.2.0_rc10

Description

Module for decorators, wrappers and monkey patching

Added to portage

2026-04-18

rdf newsfeed | rss newsfeed | Atom newsfeed
Copyright 2004-2025 Sascha Nitsch Unternehmensberatung GmbH
- Copyright and legal notices -
Time to create this page: 60.3 ms