Today marks a major milestone for Debian and Ubuntu users: APT 3.0 has officially been released!
This is the latest evolution of the powerful package manager used by millions to install and manage software on their systems.
The new version kicks off a fresh stable series and is dedicated to Steve Langasek, a longtime contributor to both Debian and Ubuntu, who sadly passed away on January 1, 2025.
So, What’s New in APT 3.0?
New features in APT 3.0
🌍 Improved Language Support
One of the first things you’ll notice in APT 3.0 is the expanded language support.
Get Your Free Linux training!
Join our free Linux training and discover the power of open-source technology. Enhance your skills and boost your career! Start Learning Linux today - Free!Users who prefer working in Dutch, German, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Romanian, Catalan, Swedish, Czech, or Polish will now enjoy smoother experiences, thanks to updated translations.
Even the documentation and built-in help pages (manpages) have been polished up in these languages, making the tool more accessible to non-English speakers.
🧠 Smarter Dependency Resolution with Solver3
Under the hood, APT 3.0 brings in a powerful new feature called solver3 — a smarter algorithm that helps APT figure out what packages to install, update, or remove, even in complex situations.
Imagine you’re upgrading your system and some packages have conflicting requirements; solver3 can now backtrack and retry with different solutions until it finds one that works.
This has been fine-tuned in earlier versions, but in 3.0, it’s fully integrated with better performance, smarter decision-making, and fewer frustrating errors.
🌀 Smoother Phased Updates
APT can now handle phased updates, which means updates can be rolled out gradually across users instead of all at once.
This is useful for catching bugs early and preventing widespread issues — a bit like test-driving a car before letting everyone get behind the wheel.
🖥️ A Cleaner, Friendlier Interface
If you’ve used APT in the terminal, you’ll notice some nice visual upgrades. The new columnar output keeps things neatly lined up, making it easier to read what’s happening during an upgrade.
Think of it like switching from messy notes to a well-organized spreadsheet.
On top of that, color-coded messages now highlight important changes:
- 🔴 Red = packages being removed (watch out!)
- 🆕 Bold = new packages being installed This helps users quickly spot what matters during large updates.
💡 Better Recommendations
APT now does a better job of showing “Recommended” and “Suggested” packages. These are extras that aren’t strictly required but can improve your experience.
For example, installing a media player might come with a suggested plugin pack. APT now highlights these more clearly — even during upgrades — so you don’t miss out on useful tools.
🔐 Stronger Security, Less Complexity
Security has also gotten an upgrade. APT 3.0 moves away from older tools like GnuTLS and GnuPG in favor of OpenSSL and Sequoia, which are more modern and reliable for verifying package authenticity.
Also, say goodbye to the old apt-key tool—it’s officially deprecated. The new system simplifies key management while making it harder for tampered packages to slip through the cracks.
Where Can You Try It?
APT 3.0 is now available in Debian’s “unstable” branch, where new features land first. It’s expected to move into “testing” soon, as part of the preparation for Debian 13 “Trixie,” which is currently undergoing a transition and toolchain freeze. (Translation: developers are locking in big changes before release.)