Nala
What Nala is
Nala is free, open-source command-line software for Linux systems based on Debian, Ubuntu, and their derivatives. It acts as a front end for libapt-pkg and manages .deb packages with dependency resolution. Commands cover package listing, searching, showing, installation, removal, autoremove, updating, and upgrading. Upgrade operations offer normal, safe, and full modes, with glob-style exclusions. Nala can install local .deb files and ingest packages from direct URLs. Its parallel downloader limits connections by domain and verifies hashes before installation. The nala fetch command selects mirrors through automatic or interactive terminal modes. Transactions are stored as individual JSON records that can be inspected, undone, redone, or cleared. TOML configuration controls transaction behavior, terminal presentation, units, colors, and themes. APT options and proxy settings remain available through APT configuration. Package-changing commands require root access, display planned changes, and record applied transactions. The project is transitioning from Python to Rust and is licensed under GPLv3 or later.
Who it suits
Nala suits Linux users on Debian, Ubuntu, and derivatives who prefer terminal-based package management with transaction previews and history controls.
What it does well
- Free and open source
- Supports dependency resolution
- Parallel downloads with hash verification
- Transaction history supports undo and redo
- Automatic or interactive mirror selection
What to know first
- Linux only
- Does not work through described installation on Ubuntu 18.04
- Does not work through described installation on Debian Buster
- Package-changing commands require root privileges
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Nala | Free command-line software | Free |
As gitlab.com lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Nala combines familiar APT package operations with mirror selection, download verification, configurable terminal output, and recorded transaction history. Check your distribution version first because the described installation does not support Ubuntu 18.04, Debian Buster, or older releases.
Facts from Nala's own pages
- APT compatibility
- APT options can be passed through with -o KEY=VALUE, and proxy support uses APT acquire configuration. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Configuration
- Nala uses TOML configuration for transaction behavior, UI mode, units, color mode, and theme. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Configuration and output
- Nala uses TOML configuration and supports plain, inline, and optional full-screen terminal UI modes. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Dependency resolution
- Yes · gitlab.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Distribution
- The installation wiki lists Debian Testing/Sid and the Volian Scar repository as installation options. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- Nala includes a parallel package downloader with per-domain connection limits and verifies package download hashes before installation. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- History
- Nala stores transaction history as individual JSON records and supports inspection, undo, redo, and clearing history. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Install options
- The installation wiki describes Debian packages, a Volian Scar repository, Pacstall, local .deb installation, and installation from source. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- License
- The GitLab project page lists the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The project is hosted under Volian Linux on GitLab; the opened project page does not state the maker’s headquarters or founding date. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Mirrors
- The nala fetch command selects mirrors, with automatic and interactive terminal UI modes. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Notable limit
- The installation wiki says Nala does not work on Ubuntu 18.04, Debian Buster, or older releases through its described package installation because their Python versions and required packages are too old. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Package discovery
- Its commands include list, search, show, and policy. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Package formats
- .deb · gitlab.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Package management
- Nala provides commands to list, search, show, install, remove, update, upgrade, and autoremove packages. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Package operations
- Its transaction commands include install, remove, autoremove, update, and upgrade, with normal, safe, and full upgrade modes. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Package sources
- It supports local .deb installation and direct URL package ingestion. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- The installation wiki describes packages for Debian and Ubuntu, plus Debian and Ubuntu based distributions; it says Ubuntu 18.04, Debian Buster, and older are not officially supported. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Project date
- The GitLab project page says it was created on December 07, 2021. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Project status
- The repository is transitioning from its original Python implementation to a Rust implementation. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Nala is a command-line front-end for libapt-pkg, currently being rewritten in Rust on top of rust-apt. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Security behavior
- Package-changing commands require root privileges; Nala checks for root, shows planned changes before committing, and records applied transactions. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Support
- The repository links to GitLab Issues for bug reports and feature requests. · gitlab.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- Debian,Ubuntu,and derivatives · gitlab.com, 22 Sept 2026
Where Nala stands on Freedom251
- Package Managers#65 of 93