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So I recently installed the kde packages, running the command apt install kde-full for installing the kde desktop environment, after test it a while I realize I didn't want it anymore so I remove the packages like this apt remove kde-full, but I notice that some packages and applications remains and weren't completely removed.

I am on Debian 8 distribution. I recently turned to the linux world so any help will be appreciated.

[Edit]

I also tried tasksel --list-task:

u desktop   Debian desktop environment
u gnome-desktop GNOME
u xfce-desktop  Xfce
u kde-desktop   KDE
u cinnamon-desktop  Cinnamon
u mate-desktop  MATE
u lxde-desktop  LXDE
u web-server    web server
u print-server  print server
u ssh-server    SSH server
i laptop    laptop

Some packges listing with synaptic-package-manager:

enter image description here

aptitude why kde-base-artwork output:

aptitude why kde-base-artwork
i   kdeartwork         Depends kscreensaver (>= 4:4.14.2-1)      
i A kscreensaver       Depends kde-workspace-bin                 
i A kde-workspace-bin  Depends kde-workspace-data (= 4:4.11.13-2)
i A kde-workspace-data Depends kde-base-artwork
|improve this question
  • Can you add some example of package that cannot be removed? – GAD3R May 31 '17 at 18:12
  • I was thinking to remove it all by displaying kde-full package dependencies and pass it to apt remove command , any ideas? – Daniel Pérez May 31 '17 at 18:20
  • Did you need to install another desktop environment instead of KDE? – GAD3R May 31 '17 at 18:35
  • I have already gnome desktop installed, and I had it when I installed kde – Daniel Pérez May 31 '17 at 19:02
  • I installed ubuntu 17.10 so I no longer have a way to verify any answer, so I think this question should be closed – Daniel Pérez Dec 29 '17 at 21:37
3

After removing kde-full,

apt autoremove

or

apt-get autoremove

(apt autoremove will be available in Debian 9)

should remove any packages that were installed automatically along with kde-full. Take care to review the list of packages that are about to be removed before confirming the removal.

Other packages may be marked as not automatically installed, e.g. kdeartwork in your case (for whatever reason). You need to remove those packages and re-run autoremove. To identify all the packages you need to remove, look for packages the automatic flag, or run aptitude why on packages that are automatically installed and look for packages without A in the output. After a few iterations you should manage to get rid of all the unwanted packages.

|improve this answer
  • not showing packges for autoremove – Daniel Pérez May 31 '17 at 17:49
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    kde-full is ametapackage. It will not remove remaining packages that are part of that. autoremove is only for dependencies not needed anymore... – user34720 May 31 '17 at 17:50
  • @nwildner after removing kde-full, the “dependencies” that it pulled in should no longer be needed any more (I just checked with another metapackage, in the metapackage section). – Stephen Kitt May 31 '17 at 19:04
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    @nwildner more explicitly, for example kde-full depends on kde-plasma-desktop, so installing kde-full installs kde-plasma-desktop and marks it as an automatic installation; removing kde-full should also remove kde-plasma-desktop (depending on the tool being used — apparently apt on its own won’t, but aptitude will), and if it doesn’t do so directly, autoremove should catch it (unless some other installed package depends on it or recommends it). – Stephen Kitt May 31 '17 at 19:06

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