Find executables installed via apt

Problem:

I want to list all executables installed via apt (or apt-get). I know the name of the package installed and I am already comfortable with using shell commands.

Solution:

To list all executables installed for a package, in your shell use the following command while replacing "packagename" with the actual package name:

  dpkg -L packagename | xargs file | grep executable
  

Example:

For example, if I want to list all executables installed in the package "nullmailer":

  dpkg -L nullmailer | xargs file | grep executable
  

Other reminders:

To list all files installed for a package, in your shell and replacing "packagename" with your package name, use:

  dpkg -L packagename
  

To list all executables for a package (named "packagename") installed in the "opt" folder, use:

  dpkg -L packagename | xargs file | grep ^/opt | grep executable
  

References:

• https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/dpkg.1.html
• https://wiki.debian.org/dpkg
• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/18937393/list-of-executables-installed-from-package
• https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/xargs.1.html