# Update the local database of available packages, as discovered from package index
# file found in their sources. This does not actually update your installed
# software! For that, keeping reading.
apt-get update

# Upgrade installed packages, but there may be exceptions, such as important kernel
# packages. Also, packages will not be removed, like if they're deprecated, with
# this method.
apt-get upgrade

# Unlike the above, this will upgrade all of the installed packages, and perform
# other actions required for a successful and thorough upgrade. This will also
# allow for upgrading to the next minor release of your distributions, such as from
# Ubuntu '16.04.1' to '16.04.2'.
apt-get dist-upgrade

# Clean out (completely) the follow locations of saved DEB files:
#
#   /var/cache/apt/archives/* /var/cache/apt/archives/partial/
#   /var/lib/apt/lists/partial/
#   /var/cache/apt/pkgcache.bin /var/cache/apt/srcpkgcache.bin
#
# This will also, thanks to the provided flag, be somewhat verbose.
apt-get clean -s

# View the changelog for the firefox package. Useful prior to or after upgrade.
apt-get changelog firefox

# Download PKG (one or more) without actually installing or extracting them. A good
# use for this might be to upgrade an offline system, by downloading the packages
# on a system using an Internet-able machine. Files are downloaded into the CWD.
apt-get download PKG

# Install PKG (one or more), bringing in dependencies and, provided settings allow
# it, install recommended and/or suggested packages.
apt-get install PKG

# At times, dependencies won't be installed, yet you still need them; the following
# command will often fix this, and is usually suggested to the user.
apt-get -f install

# Remove PKG, while also purging system-wide configuration files for it.
apt-get purge PKG
# Alternative syntax:
apt-get remove --purge PKG

# Often used to first update the local database of packages, then, only if
# successful, a full system upgrade is started.
apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade

# Download specified package (firefox, in this example) and all packages marked
# thereby as important or dependencies. Files are downloaded into the CWD.
apt-get download firefox `apt-cache --important depends firefox | awk '{if(NR>1){printf("%s ", $2)}}'`