Discard unused dependencies?

Reid · 12 December 2023 20:06

Hi team -
I’m running kernel 6.1.66-2 with Plasma 5.2.21

Over the past few years have been watching my system partition usage grow slowly. Wasn’t sure what was happening. Looking into it more, it seems that I’ve been hanging on to unused dependencies, without realizing it. It’s almost 4G (shown below).
Before I pull the trigger and get rid of this, is there anything I should know. It’s no fun to try to recover if I really break things.

thx
Reid

rsv2@reid-galagopro:~$ sudo pacman -Rsn $(pacman -Qdtq)
checking dependencies...
:: binutils optionally requires debuginfod: for debuginfod server/client functionality
:: grub optionally requires sdl: For grub-emu SDL support
:: inxi optionally requires xorg-xrandr: xrandr: -G (X) monitors(s) resolution; -Ga monitor data
:: lib32-libpulse optionally requires lib32-alsa-plugins: ALSA support
:: libbluray optionally requires java-runtime: BD-J library
:: libde265 optionally requires sdl: dec265 YUV overlay output
:: libguestfs optionally requires java-runtime: for Java bindings
:: libjpeg-turbo optionally requires java-runtime>11: for TurboJPEG Java wrapper
:: libjxl optionally requires java-runtime: for JNI bindings
:: libmpeg2 optionally requires sdl: mpeg2dec command
:: libreoffice-fresh optionally requires java-runtime: adds java support
:: libreoffice-fresh optionally requires java-environment: required by extension-wiki-publisher and extension-nlpsolver
:: lv2 optionally requires python-lxml: for lv2specgen.py
:: lv2 optionally requires python-pygments: for lv2specgen.py
:: neofetch optionally requires xorg-xrandr: Resolution detection (Multi Monitor + Refresh rates)
:: python-fonttools optionally requires python-lxml: faster backend for XML files reading/writing
:: python-fonttools optionally requires python-scipy: for finding wrong contour/component order between different masters
:: python-html5lib optionally requires python-lxml: lxml treebuilder
:: python-matplotlib optionally requires python-certifi: https support
:: python-pyparsing optionally requires python-jinja: for generating Railroad Diagrams
:: python-urllib3 optionally requires python-certifi: security support
:: systemd optionally requires libmicrohttpd: systemd-journal-gatewayd and systemd-journal-remote
:: zensu optionally requires zenity: Option for displaying dialog window

Packages (230) autoconf-2.71-4  autoconf-archive-1:2023.02.20-1  cmake-3.27.9-1
               cppdap-1.58.0-1  debuginfod-0.190-1  enblend-enfuse-4.2.r1526+hc6b17c386f40-1
               erlang-nox-26.1.2-2  game-devices-udev-0.22-1  gklib-5.1.1-4
               glib2-docs-2.78.3-1  gtk-doc-1.33.2-3  hdf5-1.14.3-1  http-parser-2.9.4-1
               intltool-0.51.0-6  itstool-1:2.0.7-1  java-environment-common-3-5
               java-hamcrest-1.3-5  jdk-openjdk-21.u35-8  jsoncpp-1.9.5-2  kdsoap-qt6-2.1.1-2
               lib32-alsa-plugins-1.2.7.1-2  lib32-libxcrypt-compat-4.4.36-1
               lib32-libxss-1.2.4-1  lib32-nspr-4.35-1  lib32-nss-3.95-1
               lib32-sqlite-3.44.0-1  libaec-1.0.6-1  libmicrohttpd-0.9.77-1
               libmspack-1:0.11alpha-1  libpano13-2.9.21-5  libxcrypt-compat-4.4.36-1
               m4-1.4.19-3  mallard-ducktype-1.0.2-9  oniguruma-6.9.9-1
               python-aiosignal-1.3.1-4  python-aniso8601-9.0.1-5  python-apipkg-3.0.2-1
               python-astroid-2.15.6-1  python-babel-2.12.1-1  python-beautifulsoup4-4.12.2-1
               python-blinker-1.6.3-1  python-cachetools-5.3.2-1  python-certifi-2023.11.17-1
               python-cheroot-9.0.0-5  python-click-8.1.7-1  python-colorama-0.4.6-2
               python-coverage-6.5.0-5  python-dill-0.3.7-1  python-docutils-1:0.20.1-1
               python-flask-2.3.3-1  python-frozenlist-1.4.0-1  python-future-0.18.3-2
               python-google-api-core-2.11.0-2  python-google-auth-2.23.0-1
               python-google-auth-httplib2-0.1.1-1  python-googleapis-common-protos-1.61.0-1
               python-httplib2-0.22.0-4  python-imagesize-1.4.1-4  python-iniconfig-2.0.0-4
               python-isort-5.12.0-2  python-itsdangerous-2.1.2-3
               python-jaraco.classes-3.3.0-1  python-jaraco.collections-3.5.2-3
               python-jinja-1:3.1.2-4  python-joblib-1.3.2-1
               python-jsonschema-specifications-2023.11.2-1  python-lark-parser-1.1.7-2
               python-lazy-object-proxy-1.9.0-3  python-logutils-0.3.5-12  python-lxml-4.9.2-3
               python-mako-1.2.4-3  python-markdown-it-py-3.0.0-1  python-markupsafe-2.1.3-1
               python-mccabe-0.7.0-5  python-mdurl-0.1.2-4  python-msgpack-1.0.5-1
               python-multidict-6.0.4-2  python-pbr-6.0.0-1  python-pluggy-1.3.0-1
               python-pooch-1.8.0-1  python-portend-3.1.0-3  python-pyasn1-0.4.8-8
               python-pyasn1-modules-0.2.8-7  python-pygments-2.17.2-1
               python-pyproject-hooks-1.0.0-5  python-pyrsistent-0.19.3-3
               python-pytest-7.4.3-1  python-pytz-2023.3.post1-1  python-referencing-0.31.1-1
               python-rpds-py-0.10.6-1  python-rsa-4.9-2  python-scipy-1.11.4-1
               python-snowballstemmer-2.2.0-5  python-soupsieve-2.5-1
               python-sphinx-alabaster-theme-0.7.13-4  python-sphinxcontrib-applehelp-1.0.7-1
               python-sphinxcontrib-devhelp-1.0.5-1  python-sphinxcontrib-htmlhelp-2.0.4-1
               python-sphinxcontrib-jsmath-1.0.1-15  python-sphinxcontrib-qthelp-1.0.6-1
               python-sphinxcontrib-serializinghtml-1.1.9-1  python-tempora-5.2.2-2
               python-threadpoolctl-3.2.0-1  python-toml-0.10.2-9  python-tomlkit-0.12.2-1
               python-uc-micro-py-1.0.2-1  python-uritemplate-4.1.1-2  python-waitress-2.1.2-2
               python-wcwidth-0.2.9-1  python-webob-1.8.7-6  python-webtest-3.0.0-5
               python-werkzeug-2.3.8-1  python-wrapt-1.14.1-2  python-yarl-1.9.2-1
               python-zc.lockfile-3.0.post1-2  python-zipp-3.17.0-1  rhash-1.4.4-1
               sdl12-compat-1.2.68-1  vigra-1.11.1.r67+g093d57d1-13  wxwidgets-common-3.2.4-2
               wxwidgets-gtk3-3.2.4-2  xorg-xrandr-1.5.2-1  yelp-tools-42.1-1  yelp-xsl-42.1-1
               zenity-3.44.2-1  alsa-card-profiles-1:1.0.0-2  appstream-glib-0.8.2-3
               bison-3.8.2-6  boost-1.83.0-2  coffeescript-2.7.0-1  crypto++-8.9.0-1
               cunit-2.1.3-3  cython-3.0.6-1  debugedit-5.0-5  extra-cmake-modules-5.112.0-1
               fcgi-2.4.2-2  ffmpegthumbnailer-2.2.2-5  gendesk-1.0.9-3  geocode-glib-3.26.4-4
               gnome-common-3.18.0-4  gnome-online-accounts-3.48.0-2  gperf-3.1-5
               gtest-1.14.0-1  gupnp-dlna-0.12.0-2  hugin-2023.0.0-1  jq-1.7-1  js78-78.15.0-4
               junit-4.13.2-1  kdsoap-ws-discovery-client-0.3.0-2  leveldb-1.23-3
               lib32-readline-8.2.007-1  libcddb-1.3.2-7  libcroco-0.6.13-2
               libcryptui-1:3.12.2+r71+ged4f890e-1  libcurl-compat-8.5.0-1  libgdata-0.18.1-3
               libgit2-1:1.7.1-1  libindicator-gtk3-12.10.1-10  liblouis-3.27.0-1
               librabbitmq-c-0.11.0-2  librdkafka-2.3.0-1  libsidplay-1.36.59-10
               libusb-compat-0.1.8-1  libvisual-0.4.2-1  lua52-5.2.4-6  maven-3.8.7-1
               metis-5.2.1-2  nasm-2.16.01-1  noto-fonts-compat-20151217-1  odt2txt-0.5-5
               patch-2.7.6-10  perl-parse-yapp-1.21-6  pkgconf-2.1.0-2  python-aiohttp-3.9.1-1
               python-anytree-2.12.1-1  python-appdirs-1.4.4-9  python-bcrypt-4.0.1-3
               python-build-1.0.3-1  python-cachecontrol-1:0.13.1-1  python-cherrypy-18.8.0-3
               python-commonmark-0.9.1-9  python-contextlib2-21.6.0-2
               python-defusedxml-0.7.1-5  python-elasticsearch-7.9.0-4
               python-exceptiongroup-1.1.3-2  python-flask-restful-0.3.9-5
               python-flit-core-3.9.0-1  python-google-api-python-client-2.88.0-1
               python-importlib-metadata-5.0.0-5  python-installer-0.7.0-3
               python-isodate-0.6.1-3  python-jsonschema-4.20.0-1  python-mock-3.0.5-11
               python-nose-1.3.7-15  python-nspektr-0.5.0-1  python-pecan-1.4.2-3
               python-pep517-0.13.0-4  python-pkgconfig-1.5.5-5  python-poetry-core-1.8.1-2
               python-prettytable-3.9.0-1  python-progress-1.6-8
               python-prometheus_client-0.18.0-1  python-py-1.11.0-4
               python-pycodestyle-2.11.1-1  python-pyflakes-3.1.0-1  python-pyjwt-2.8.0-1
               python-pylint-2.17.7-1  python-pytest-cov-4.1.0-1  python-resolvelib-1.0.1-1
               python-retrying-1.3.3-16  python-rich-13.7.0-1  python-scikit-learn-1.3.2-2
               python-sphinx-7.2.6-1  python-tenacity-8.2.3-1  python-testpath-0.6.0-2
               python-xmlsec-1.3.13-3  qt5-doc-5.15.11-2  qt5-webkit-5.212.0alpha4-21
               rabbitmq-3.12.0-1  rest-0.8.1+r4+ge5ee6ef-1  startup-notification-0.12-8
               steam-1.0.0.78-4  ttf-noto-nerd-3.1.1-1  valgrind-3.22.0-1
               virtualbox-guest-iso-7.0.12-1  wayland-protocols-1.32-1
               webkit2gtk-5.0-2.38.6-1  xmlstarlet-1.6.1-3  yaml-cpp-0.8.0-1  yasm-1.3.0-6

Total Removed Size:  3861.18 MiB

wntr · 12 December 2023 21:19

-Qdt lists orphans which are safe to remove.
-Rns also removes optdepends and config files which you might want remaining so it is up to you to check and verify.

You should also clear the package cache with:

sudo paccache -rk2
sudo paccache -ruk0

cscs · 12 December 2023 23:14

You should look over that list it printed.
If there is anything you would like to keep then mark it ‘as explicit’;
(example here, using steam)

sudo pacman -D --asexplicit steam

deemon · 13 December 2023 01:43

or install paccache-hook from AUR. which gives you configuration file /etc/paccache-hook.conf and runs it every time you run pacman.

Woolf · 13 December 2023 03:04

pamac remove -o

cscs · 13 December 2023 05:51

Which is just an inferior version of

… which @Reid has apparently already gathered on their own.

The question more stems from whether or not its a good idea.

I would say that none of the packages appear mission-critical, but theres no way for us as non-admins of this system, to know whether any of those packages are technically desirable.

OP should review the list, mark ‘as explicit’ anything they want to keep … then move ahead.

Reid · 13 December 2023 14:37

Thanks for all the replies. It’s really appreciated.

FYI, This is a single-user laptop for personal use. I’ve taken another look at the list and I don’t recognize any of it as something I’ve explicitly installed. No doubt these are libraries, modules, etc., related to apps, tools and that come with. That’s fine.

Reid

system · 13 December 2023 17:58

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