Arch Linux

flip flops

Member

Registered: 2022-03-30

Posts: 3

What happens when you kill pacman mid installation/update?

I was  wondering what happens when you kill pacman mid installation/update with Ctrl-C.
Do the system packages revert to the state they were before the operation started? Or are there residual changes that are left unfinished?

Also, if Ctrl-C isn't recommended, is there a safer way to make pacman stop doing whatever it's doing? (like for when you change your mind about installing a large package)

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 13,729

Re: What happens when you kill pacman mid installation/update?

If it's in the download phase or earlier, the only issue is that your databases are now out of sync with the rest of your system.

If it's after that, you end up in a partially updated state, which is very bad. As the post transaction hooks didn't run, you can very easily end up with an unbootable system.

flip flops

Member

Registered: 2022-03-30

Posts: 3

Re: What happens when you kill pacman mid installation/update?

Thanks for the clarification!