Pacstall: Bringing AUR-Style Package Management to Ubuntu

If you've ever spent an afternoon chasing down a .deb file from some GitHub release page, or cloning a repository just to build a tool you wanted to try, you know the pain. Ubuntu's package ecosystem is solid, but it doesn't always have what you need. Pacstall is a community project that tries to fill that gap by bringing an AUR-style package manager to Ubuntu, and it's written entirely in bash.

What It Does

Pacstall is a package manager for Ubuntu that takes the concept of Arch's AUR and adapts it to Debian-based systems. Instead of relying solely on a centralized repository, Pacstall lets you install programs from multiple repositories. The project describes itself as "the AUR Ubuntu wishes it had," and the core idea is straightforward: make it easier to install software without scouring GitHub repos and similar sources.

The tool is built in bash and supports creating native packages from a variety of sources: binaries, git repositories, appimages, release artifacts, and existing .deb packages. It also lets maintainers create prebuilt .deb packages for distribution. Under the hood, Pacstall uses a package recipe format that the README calls "powerful and expressive," which is how maintainers define how each program gets built and installed.

Why It's Cool

The most interesting thing about Pacstall is how it handles -git packages. When you upgrade a -git package, you always get the latest build from the latest commit straight from the developer. You don't have to wait for a pacscript maintainer to update the recipe first. That's a meaningful difference from how most distro packaging works, and it's the kind of thing that makes sense for people who want to live on the edge with specific tools.

• Multiple repositories, not just one. Pacstall doesn't force everything through a single centralized source. You can pull packages from different repositories, which gives the ecosystem room to grow organically without one group having to approve everything.

• Flexible source handling. Whether a program ships as a binary, an appimage, a git repo, or a .deb, Pacstall can work with it. That flexibility matters when you're dealing with software that doesn't fit neatly into Debian's packaging conventions.

• You can build .deb packages too. Pacstall isn't just for installing things. It can produce high-quality prebuilt .deb packages, which means it doubles as a tool for anyone who needs to distribute software to Ubuntu users.

• It's bash. There's something honest about a package manager written in bash. It's not trying to be clever with a new language or a complex runtime. It runs where bash runs, and on Ubuntu, that's everywhere.

How to Try It

Pacstall offers three installation paths, so you can pick whichever fits your comfort level.

1. From a bash script (the quickest option):

sudo bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://pacstall.dev/q/install || wget -q https://pacstall.dev/q/install -O -)"

1. From the PPR (Pacstall Package Repository):

sudo apt install pacstall

1. From a .deb in the release assets on the GitHub releases page.

Once it's installed, the commands will feel familiar if you've used apt. To install a package:

pacstall -I foo

To remove one:

pacstall -R foo

To list what you've installed through Pacstall:

pacstall -L

One thing to note: if you installed Pacstall via APT, you'll want to remove any packages you installed through Pacstall (pacstall -R pkgname) before uninstalling the tool itself. The README points this out, and it's a good habit to get into. If you're not sure how you installed it, running pacstall -U will tell you—if it errors out, you used APT.

You can browse available packages at pacstall.dev/packages, and the source lives at github.com/pacstall/pacstall.

Final Thoughts

Pacstall is a practical answer to a real annoyance. It's not trying to replace apt or reinvent how Ubuntu handles system packages. It's filling in the gaps for software that isn't in the official repos, and it does so with a tool that feels native to the environment. If you're the kind of person who regularly installs tools from GitHub releases or builds things from source, Pacstall is worth a look. The bash implementation keeps it accessible, and the multi-repository model gives it room to grow. It's a solid addition to any Ubuntu setup where you want a bit more reach than the default repositories offer.

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