How to List the Pre-installed Packages in Raspbian

Whenever there is a new release of Rasbian I always wonder what packages are installed by default. Sometimes this affects my old tutorials as I want to know if I need to bother telling people to install packages that are now included by default.

The latest version of Raspian is currently : 2016-02-09-raspbian-jessie

The pre-installed packages marked as “automatic” can be listed using :

apt-mark showauto

Those marked as manually installed can be listed using :

apt-mark showmanual

If you want to save the list as a text file you can use :

apt-mark showauto > packagelist.txt

apt-mark showmanual > packagelist.txt

There are usually 400-500 packages.

Pre-Installed Packages

Here are the list of pre-installed packages :

adwaita-icon-theme
alsa-base
aspell
aspell-en
bind9-host
binutils
blt
bzip2
claws-mail-i18n
coinor-libcbc3
coinor-libcgl1
coinor-libclp1
coinor-libcoinmp1
coinor-libcoinutils3
coinor-libosi1
console-setup-linux
cpp
cpp-4.9
cryptsetup-bin
cups-bsd
cups-client
cups-common
dbus
dbus-x11
dc
dconf-gsettings-backend
dconf-service
debian-reference-common
dh-python
dictionaries-common
dpkg-dev
eject
emacsen-common
epiphany-browser-data
esound-common
fakeroot
file
fontconfig
fontconfig-config
fonts-dejavu-core
fonts-dejavu-extra
fonts-freefont-ttf
fonts-opensymbol
fonts-roboto
freepats
fuse
g++
g++-4.9
gcc
gcc-4.9
gconf-service
gconf2
gconf2-common
gdbserver
gdebi-core
geoip-database
gettext-base
giblib1
gir1.2-atk-1.0
gir1.2-freedesktop
gir1.2-gdkpixbuf-2.0
gir1.2-glib-2.0
gir1.2-gmenu-3.0
gir1.2-gtk-3.0
gir1.2-pango-1.0
git
git-man
glib-networking
glib-networking-common
glib-networking-services
gnome-desktop3-data
gnome-icon-theme-symbolic
gnome-menus
gnome-themes-standard
gnupg-agent
gnupg2
gsettings-desktop-schemas
gsfonts
gsfonts-x11
gstreamer0.10-alsa
gstreamer0.10-plugins-base
gtk2-engines-clearlookspix
gtk2-engines-pixbuf
gvfs
gvfs-common
gvfs-daemons
gvfs-libs
hdparm
hicolor-icon-theme
idle-python2.7
idle-python3.4
iso-codes
iw
jackd
jackd2
javascript-common
kbd
krb5-locales
libaa1
libabw-0.1-1
libalgorithm-c3-perl
libalgorithm-diff-perl
libalgorithm-diff-xs-perl
libalgorithm-merge-perl
libarchive-extract-perl
libarchive13
libasan1
libasn1-8-heimdal
libasound2
libasound2-data
libaspell15
libasprintf0c2
libass5
libassuan0
libasyncns0
libatasmart4
libatk-bridge2.0-0
libatk1.0-0
libatk1.0-data
libatomic1
libatspi2.0-0
libaudio2
libaudiofile1
libavahi-client3
libavahi-common-data
libavahi-common3
libavahi-core7
libavahi-glib1
libavahi-gobject0
libavc1394-0
libavcodec56
libavformat56
libavresample2
libavutil54
libbind9-90
libblas-common
libblas3
libbluetooth3
libbluray1
libboost-atomic1.55.0
libboost-date-time1.55.0
libboost-filesystem1.55.0
libboost-program-options1.55.0
libboost-regex1.55.0
libboost-system1.55.0
libboost-thread1.55.0
libc-ares2
libc-dev-bin
libc6-dbg
libc6-dev
libcaca0
libcairo-gobject2
libcairo2
libcanberra-gtk3-0
libcanberra0
libcap-ng0
libcdio-cdda1
libcdio-paranoia1
libcdio13
libcdparanoia0
libcdr-0.1-1
libcgi-fast-perl
libcgi-pm-perl
libchromaprint0
libclass-c3-perl
libclass-c3-xs-perl
libcloog-isl4
libclucene-contribs1
libclucene-core1
libcmis-0.4-4
libcolamd2.8.0
libcolord2
libcompfaceg1
libcpan-meta-perl
libcroco3
libcups2
libcupsfilters1
libcupsimage2
libcurl3
libcurl3-gnutls
libcwiid1
libdaemon0
libdata-optlist-perl
libdata-section-perl
libdatrie1
libdbus-glib-1-2
libdc1394-22
libdca0
libdconf1
libdevmapper-event1.02.1
libdirectfb-1.2-9
libdns100
libdpkg-perl
libdrm-amdgpu1
libdrm-freedreno1
libdrm-nouveau2
libdrm-radeon1
libdv4
libdvdnav4
libdvdread4
libe-book-0.1-1
libedit2
libegl1-mesa
libelf1
libelfg0
libenca0
libenchant1c2a
libeot0
libepoxy0
liberror-perl
libesd0
libetonyek-0.1-1
libetpan17
libevdev2
libevent-2.0-5
libexif12
libexpat1
libexpat1-dev
libexttextcat-2.0-0
libexttextcat-data
libfaad2
libfakeroot
libfcgi-perl
libffi5
libfftw3-double3
libfftw3-single3
libfile-fcntllock-perl
libflac8
libflite1
libfltk1.3
libfluidsynth1
libfm-data
libfm-extra4
libfm-gtk-data
libfm-gtk4
libfm-modules
libfm4
libfontconfig1
libfontenc1
libfreehand-0.1-1
libfreetype6
libfribidi0
libfuse2
libgbm1
libgcc-4.9-dev
libgconf-2-4
libgd3
libgdk-pixbuf2.0-0
libgdk-pixbuf2.0-common
libgeoclue0
libgeoip1
libgfortran3
libgif4
libgirepository-1.0-1
libgksu2-0
libgl1-mesa-glx
libglapi-mesa
libglew1.10
libglib2.0-0
libglib2.0-bin
libglib2.0-data
libgltf-0.0-0
libglu1-mesa
libgme0
libgnome-desktop-3-10
libgnome-keyring-common
libgnome-keyring0
libgnome-menu-3-0
libgoa-1.0-0b
libgoa-1.0-common
libgomp1
libgpgme11
libgphoto2-6
libgphoto2-port10
libgpm2
libgraphite2-3
libgsm1
libgssapi-krb5-2
libgssapi3-heimdal
libgstreamer-plugins-bad1.0-0
libgstreamer-plugins-base0.10-0
libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-0
libgstreamer0.10-0
libgstreamer1.0-0
libgtk-3-0
libgtk-3-bin
libgtk-3-common
libgtk2.0-0
libgtk2.0-bin
libgtk2.0-common
libgtkglext1
libgtop2-7
libgtop2-common
libgudev-1.0-0
libharfbuzz-icu0
libharfbuzz0b
libhcrypto4-heimdal
libheimbase1-heimdal
libheimntlm0-heimdal
libhsqldb1.8.0-java
libhunspell-1.3-0
libhx509-5-heimdal
libhyphen0
libice6
libid3tag0
libiec61883-0
libilmbase6
libimlib2
libimobiledevice4
libisc95
libisccc90
libisccfg90
libisl10
libiw30
libjack-jackd2-0
libjasper1
libjavascriptcoregtk-3.0-0
libjbig0
libjpeg62-turbo
libjpeg8
libjs-jquery
libjs-prettify
libjson-glib-1.0-0
libjson-glib-1.0-common
libk5crypto3
libkate1
libkeyutils1
libkrb5-26-heimdal
libkrb5-3
libkrb5support0
libksba8
liblangtag-common
liblangtag1
liblapack3
liblcms2-2
libldap-2.4-2
libldb1
liblightdm-gobject-1-0
libllvm3.7
liblockfile-bin
liblockfile1
liblog-message-perl
liblog-message-simple-perl
libltdl7
libluajit-5.1-common
liblvm2app2.2
liblwres90
liblzo2-2
libmad0
libmagic1
libmenu-cache-bin
libmenu-cache3
libmhash2
libmikmod3
libmimic0
libmjpegutils-2.1-0
libmms0
libmng1
libmodplug1
libmodule-build-perl
libmodule-pluggable-perl
libmodule-signature-perl
libmotif-common
libmozjs185-1.0
libmp3lame0
libmpc3
libmpdec2
libmpeg2encpp-2.1-0
libmpfr4
libmpg123-0
libmplex2-2.1-0
libmro-compat-perl
libmspub-0.1-1
libmtdev1
libmtp-common
libmtp9
libmwaw-0.3-3
libmythes-1.2-0
libneon27-gnutls
libnfsidmap2
libnl-3-200
libnl-genl-3-200
libnotify4
libnspr4
libnss-mdns
libnss3
libntdb1
libobrender29
libobt2
libodfgen-0.1-1
libofa0
libogg0
libopenal-data
libopenal1
libopencv-calib3d2.4
libopencv-contrib2.4
libopencv-core2.4
libopencv-features2d2.4
libopencv-flann2.4
libopencv-highgui2.4
libopencv-imgproc2.4
libopencv-legacy2.4
libopencv-ml2.4
libopencv-objdetect2.4
libopencv-video2.4
libopenexr6
libopenjpeg5
libopts25
libopus0
liborc-0.4-0
liborcus-0.8-0
libpackage-constants-perl
libpackagekit-glib2-18
libpam-systemd
libpango-1.0-0
libpango1.0-0
libpangocairo-1.0-0
libpangoft2-1.0-0
libpangox-1.0-0
libpangoxft-1.0-0
libparams-util-perl
libparted2
libpciaccess0
libpcsclite1
libpisock9
libpixman-1-0
libplist2
libpng12-dev
libpod-latex-perl
libpod-readme-perl
libpolkit-agent-1-0
libpolkit-backend-1-0
libpolkit-gobject-1-0
libpoppler46
libportaudio2
libportmidi0
libproxy1
libpth20
libpulse0
libpython-stdlib
libpython2.7
libpython2.7-minimal
libpython2.7-stdlib
libpython3-dev
libpython3-stdlib
libpython3.4
libpython3.4-dev
libpython3.4-minimal
libpython3.4-stdlib
libqscintilla2-11
libqscintilla2-l10n
libqt4-dbus
libqt4-network
libqt4-xml
libqt4-xmlpatterns
libqtcore4
libqtdbus4
libqtgui4
libqtwebkit4
libraptor2-0
librasqal3
libraw1394-11
librdf0
libregexp-common-perl
libreoffice-base-core
libreoffice-base-drivers
libreoffice-common
libreoffice-core
libreoffice-style-galaxy
librest-0.7-0
librevenge-0.0-0
libroken18-heimdal
librsvg2-2
librsvg2-common
librtimulib-dev
librtimulib-utils
librtimulib7
librtmp1
libruby1.9.1
libruby1.9.1-dbg
libruby2.1
libsamplerate0
libsasl2-2
libsasl2-modules
libsasl2-modules-db
libsbc1
libschroedinger-1.0-0
libscsynth1
libsdl-image1.2
libsdl-mixer1.2
libsdl-ttf2.0-0
libsdl1.2debian
libsecret-1-0
libsecret-common
libsgutils2-2
libshout3
libsm6
libsmbclient
libsndfile1
libsoftware-license-perl
libsoundtouch0
libsoup-gnome2.4-1
libsoup2.4-1
libspandsp2
libspeex1
libsrtp0
libssh-4
libssh2-1
libstartup-notification0
libstdc++-4.9-dev
libsub-exporter-perl
libsub-install-perl
libswscale3
libtag1-vanilla
libtag1c2a
libtalloc2
libtcl8.5
libtcl8.6
libtcltk-ruby1.9.1
libtdb1
libterm-ui-perl
libtevent0
libtext-soundex-perl
libtext-template-perl
libthai-data
libthai0
libtheora0
libtiff5
libtimedate-perl
libtirpc1
libtk8.5
libtk8.6
libtxc-dxtn-s2tc0
libubsan0
libudisks2-0
libusb-1.0-0
libusbmuxd2
libv4l-0
libv4l2rds0
libv4lconvert0
libv8-3.14.5
libva1
libvdpau1
libvisio-0.1-1
libvisual-0.4-0
libvisual-0.4-plugins
libvo-aacenc0
libvo-amrwbenc0
libvorbis0a
libvorbisenc2
libvorbisfile3
libvpx1
libvte-common
libvte9
libwavpack1
libwayland-client0
libwayland-cursor0
libwayland-server0
libwbclient0
libwebkitgtk-3.0-0
libwebkitgtk-3.0-common
libwebp5
libwebpdemux1
libwebpmux1
libwildmidi-config
libwildmidi1
libwind0-heimdal
libwnck-3-0
libwnck-3-common
libwnck-common
libwnck22
libwpd-0.10-10
libwpg-0.3-3
libwps-0.3-3
libwrap0
libx11-6
libx11-data
libx11-xcb1
libx264-142
libxau6
libxaw7
libxcb-dri2-0
libxcb-dri3-0
libxcb-glx0
libxcb-present0
libxcb-render0
libxcb-shape0
libxcb-shm0
libxcb-sync1
libxcb-util0
libxcb-xfixes0
libxcb1
libxcomposite1
libxcursor1
libxdamage1
libxdmcp6
libxext6
libxfce4ui-1-0
libxfce4util-bin
libxfce4util-common
libxfce4util6
libxfconf-0-2
libxfixes3
libxfont1
libxft2
libxi6
libxinerama1
libxkbcommon0
libxkbfile1
libxklavier16
libxm4
libxml2
libxmu6
libxmuu1
libxpm4
libxrandr2
libxrender1
libxres1
libxshmfence1
libxslt1.1
libxss1
libxt6
libxtst6
libxv1
libxvidcore4
libxxf86dga1
libxxf86vm1
libyajl2
libyaml-0-2
libzbar0
lightdm-gtk-greeter
linux-libc-dev
lp-solve
lsb-release
lxkeymap
lxmenu-data
lxpanel-data
lxsession
make
mime-support
ncurses-term
netsurf-common
nodejs
nodejs-legacy
ntfs-3g
openresolv
openssh-client
openssh-server
openssh-sftp-server
openssl
packagekit
patch
perl
perl-modules
pi-package-data
pi-package-session
pimixer
pinentry-gtk2
pipanel
poppler-data
poppler-utils
powermgmt-base
pypy-setuptools
pypy-upstream-dev
pypy-upstream-doc
python-apt-common
python-cairo
python-chardet
python-colorama
python-dbus
python-dbus-dev
python-distlib
python-gi
python-gobject
python-gobject-2
python-gtk2
python-html5lib
python-minimal
python-ndg-httpsclient
python-numpy
python-openssl
python-pil
python-pkg-resources
python-pyasn1
python-requests
python-rtimulib
python-sense-hat
python-setuptools
python-six
python-spidev
python-support
python-talloc
python-urllib3
python-wheel
python-xklavier
python2.7
python2.7-minimal
python3-apt
python3-chardet
python3-colorama
python3-debian
python3-dev
python3-distlib
python3-html5lib
python3-minecraftpi
python3-minimal
python3-pil
python3-pkg-resources
python3-requests
python3-rtimulib
python3-sense-hat
python3-setuptools
python3-six
python3-spidev
python3-urllib3
python3-wheel
python3.4
python3.4-dev
python3.4-minimal
qdbus
qjackctl
qtchooser
qtcore4-l10n
rename
ri1.9.1
rpcbind
rsync
ruby
ruby1.9.1
ruby1.9.1-dev
ruby1.9.1-examples
ruby1.9.1-full
ruby1.9.3
ruby2.1
rubygems-integration
samba-common
samba-libs
scrot
sgml-base
shared-mime-info
squeak-plugins-scratch
squeak-vm
supercollider
supercollider-common
supercollider-ide
supercollider-language
supercollider-server
supercollider-supernova
tcl8.5
tcpd
tk8.5
tk8.6-blt2.5
triggerhappy
ucf
udisks2
uno-libs3
ure
va-driver-all
vdpau-va-driver
wireless-regdb
wiringpi
x11-common
x11-utils
x11-xkb-utils
x11-xserver-utils
xauth
xdg-user-dirs
xfce-keyboard-shortcuts
xfconf
xfonts-100dpi
xfonts-encodings
xfonts-utils
xkb-data
xml-core
xserver-common
xserver-xorg-core
xserver-xorg-input-all
xserver-xorg-input-evdev
xserver-xorg-input-synaptics
zenity-common
zlib1g-dev

and

acl
adduser
alacarte
alsa-utils
apt
apt-utils
aptitude
aptitude-common
avahi-daemon
base-files
base-passwd
bash
bash-completion
bluej
bsdmainutils
bsdutils
build-essential
ca-certificates
cifs-utils
claws-mail
console-setup
coreutils
cpio
crda
cron
curl
dash
debconf
debconf-i18n
debconf-utils
debian-reference-en
debianutils
desktop-base
desktop-file-utils
dhcpcd5
diffutils
dillo
dmidecode
dmsetup
dosfstools
dphys-swapfile
dpkg
e2fslibs
e2fsprogs
ed
epiphany-browser
fake-hwclock
fbset
findutils
firmware-atheros
firmware-brcm80211
firmware-libertas
firmware-ralink
firmware-realtek
fonts-dejavu
fonts-sil-gentium-basic
galculator
gcc-4.6-base
gcc-4.7-base
gcc-4.8-base
gcc-4.9-base
gdb
git-core
gksu
gnome-icon-theme
gnome-themes-standard-data
gnupg
gpgv
gpicview
greenfoot
grep
groff-base
gstreamer1.0-alsa
gstreamer1.0-libav
gstreamer1.0-omx
gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad
gstreamer1.0-plugins-base
gstreamer1.0-plugins-good
gstreamer1.0-x
gtk2-engines
gvfs-backends
gvfs-fuse
gzip
hardlink
hostname
idle
idle3
ifupdown
info
init
init-system-helpers
initramfs-tools
initscripts
insserv
install-info
iproute2
iptables
iputils-ping
isc-dhcp-client
isc-dhcp-common
java-common
keyboard-configuration
klibc-utils
kmod
leafpad
less
libacl1
libapt-inst1.5
libapt-pkg4.12
libattr1
libaudit-common
libaudit1
libblkid1
libboost-iostreams1.49.0
libboost-iostreams1.50.0
libboost-iostreams1.53.0
libboost-iostreams1.54.0
libboost-iostreams1.55.0
libbsd0
libbz2-1.0
libc-bin
libc6
libcap2
libcap2-bin
libcomerr2
libcryptsetup4
libcwidget3
libdb5.3
libdbus-1-3
libdebconfclient0
libdevmapper1.02.1
libdns-export100
libdrm2
libestr0
libffi6
libfreetype6-dev
libgcc1
libgcrypt20
libgdbm3
libgl1-mesa-dri
libgles1-mesa
libgles2-mesa
libgmp10
libgnutls-deb0-28
libgnutls-openssl27
libgpg-error0
libhogweed2
libicu52
libident
libidn11
libirs-export91
libisc-export95
libisccfg-export90
libjson-c2
libklibc
libkmod2
liblocale-gettext-perl
liblogging-stdlog0
liblognorm1
liblzma5
libmount1
libncurses5
libncursesw5
libnettle4
libnewt0.52
libnfnetlink0
libnih-dbus1
libnih1
libp11-kit0
libpam-modules
libpam-modules-bin
libpam-runtime
libpam0g
libpcre3
libpipeline1
libpng12-0
libpopt0
libprocps3
libpsl0
libraspberrypi-bin
libraspberrypi-dev
libraspberrypi-doc
libraspberrypi0
libreadline6
libreoffice
libreoffice-avmedia-backend-gstreamer
libreoffice-base
libreoffice-calc
libreoffice-draw
libreoffice-gtk
libreoffice-impress
libreoffice-java-common
libreoffice-math
libreoffice-report-builder-bin
libreoffice-sdbc-hsqldb
libreoffice-writer
libselinux1
libsemanage-common
libsemanage1
libsepol1
libservlet2.5-java
libsigc++-1.2-5c2
libsigc++-2.0-0c2a
libslang2
libsmartcols1
libsqlite3-0
libss2
libssl1.0.0
libstdc++6
libsysfs2
libsystemd0
libtasn1-6
libtext-charwidth-perl
libtext-iconv-perl
libtext-wrapi18n-perl
libtinfo5
libudev0
libudev1
libusb-0.1-4
libustr-1.0-1
libuuid1
libxapian22
libxtables10
lightdm
locales
login
logrotate
lsb-base
lua5.1
luajit
lxappearance
lxappearance-obconf
lxde
lxde-common
lxde-core
lxde-icon-theme
lxinput
lxpanel
lxrandr
lxtask
lxterminal
makedev
man-db
manpages
manpages-dev
mawk
menu-xdg
minecraft-pi
module-init-tools
mount
mountall
multiarch-support
nano
ncdu
ncurses-base
ncurses-bin
net-tools
netbase
netcat-openbsd
netcat-traditional
netsurf-gtk
nfs-common
nodered
ntp
nuscratch
omxplayer
openbox
oracle-java8-jdk
parted
passwd
pcmanfm
penguinspuzzle
perl-base
pi-package
pkg-config
plymouth
policykit-1
procps
psmisc
pypy-upstream
python
python-gpiozero
python-minecraftpi
python-picamera
python-pifacecommon
python-pifacedigitalio
python-pip
python-pygame
python-rpi.gpio
python-serial
python-tk
python3
python3-gpiozero
python3-numpy
python3-pgzero
python3-picamera
python3-pifacecommon
python3-pifacedigital-scratch-handler
python3-pifacedigitalio
python3-pip
python3-pygame
python3-rpi.gpio
python3-serial
python3-tk
python3-uno
raspberrypi-artwork
raspberrypi-bootloader
raspberrypi-net-mods
raspberrypi-sys-mods
raspberrypi-ui-mods
raspbian-archive-keyring
raspi-config
raspi-copies-and-fills
raspi-gpio
rc-gui
readline-common
rpi-update
rsyslog
scratch
sed
sense-hat
sensible-utils
smartsim
sonic-pi
ssh
startpar
strace
sudo
systemd
systemd-sysv
sysv-rc
sysvinit-utils
tar
tasksel
tasksel-data
timidity
traceroute
tree
tzdata
udev
udisks
unzip
usbutils
util-linux
v4l-utils
vim-common
vim-tiny
wget
whiptail
wireless-tools
wolfram-engine
wpasupplicant
x2x
xarchiver
xcompmgr
xdg-utils
xinit
xpdf
xserver-xorg
xserver-xorg-video-fbdev
xserver-xorg-video-fbturbo
xz-utils
zenity
zlib1g

You can list packages with specific text in the title using “grep”. In the example below we can list all the pre-installed packages with “spi” in the title :