How can I check dependency list for a deb package. I am running Ubuntu 11.10 and I have backed up all deb packages from var/cache/apt/archives. I want to format my pc and re-install selected applications only. Also how can I get the list of installed packages and dependencies.
In addition to the dpkg method, you can check the dependencies of packages in the repository:
apt-cache depends package-name
EDIT Updated with @Tino's recommendation. @Tigran's comment no longer applies.
apt-cache depends package-name
//show package-name depends on who
apt-cache rdepends package-name
//show who depends on package-name
$ apt-cache depends vim-runtime
vim-runtime
Breaks: vim-tiny
|Recommends: vim
vim-athena
vim-gtk
vim-gtk3
vim-nox
|Recommends: vim-gtk
|Recommends: vim-gtk3
|Recommends: vim-athena
|Recommends: vim-nox
Recommends: vim-tiny
Enhances: vim-tiny
$ apt-cache rdepends vim-runtime
vim-runtime
Reverse Depends:
vim
vim
vim-nox
vim-gtk
vim-athena
vim-gtk3
vim
vim-nox
vim-gtk
vim-athena
vim-gtk3
