In this article, we will delve into the process of completely removing manually installed libraries in Ubuntu. This is a crucial skill for any system administrator or developer and can help maintain a clean and efficient system.
To completely remove manually installed libraries in Ubuntu, you can use methods such as the make uninstall command, Checkinstall utility, APT package handling utility, or manual removal by deleting the files listed in the install_manifest.txt file.
What are Libraries in Ubuntu?
In Ubuntu, libraries are collections of pre-compiled routines that a program can use. They are crucial for running applications and services. However, sometimes you may need to remove a library, either because it’s no longer needed or you want to replace it with a newer version.
Method 1: Using Make Uninstall
If you installed the library by compiling it manually, you can uninstall it using the make uninstall command. This command needs to be run in the build directory, which is where you originally compiled the library.
sudo make uninstallThe sudo command is used to run the following command as a superuser, while make uninstall is a command that tells the system to uninstall the software.
However, not all libraries come with the make uninstall command. If this command doesn’t work, you have to use another method.
Method 2: Using Checkinstall
Checkinstall is a utility that helps to install, remove, and manage software packages. If make uninstall doesn’t work, you can use checkinstall to generate a Debian package and then remove it. Run the following command:
sudo checkinstallThis command will create a Debian package. You can then open it from the Software Center and press “Remove” to uninstall the library.
Method 3: Using APT
If you installed the library through APT or the Software Center, you can remove it using the APT package handling utility. Here is the command:
sudo apt-get remove <library-name>Replace <library-name> with the name of the library you want to remove. The apt-get remove command tells the system to remove a package.
Method 4: Manual Removal
If none of the above methods work, you can manually remove the library. This involves deleting the files listed in the install_manifest.txt file. These files include the library’s header files, binaries, and other related files. However, be cautious when manually deleting files, as it may cause issues with other programs or dependencies.
To manually delete these files, you can use the rm command:
sudo rm /path/to/fileReplace /path/to/file with the path of the file you want to delete. The rm command tells the system to remove a file or directory.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve covered several methods to completely remove manually installed libraries in Ubuntu. Remember to always be cautious when removing libraries, as it can affect other programs and services. Always make sure to back up your data before making significant changes to your system.
The purpose of removing manually installed libraries in Ubuntu is to maintain a clean and efficient system by removing libraries that are no longer needed or replacing them with newer versions.
To uninstall a manually installed library using the make uninstall command, you need to navigate to the build directory where the library was originally compiled and run sudo make uninstall.
If the make uninstall command doesn’t work for a library, you can use the checkinstall utility to generate a Debian package and then remove it using the Software Center.
To remove a library installed through APT or the Software Center, you can use the sudo apt-get remove <library-name> command, replacing <library-name> with the name of the library you want to remove.
If none of the above methods work, you can manually remove the library by deleting the files listed in the install_manifest.txt file. However, be cautious when manually deleting files, as it may cause issues with other programs or dependencies.
