How can I create a list of all the programs on my PC?

[heavy metal]

How can I create a list of all the programs on my PC?

[gordintoronto]

Open Terminal, and paste this command:
dpkg --get-selections "*" > Desktop/applications

That will put a file on your desktop, listing all the "packages" on your computer. If you delete the ones which begin "lib" it will be all the programs.

The list is probably a lot longer than you expected.

[Jamesc359]

This is quick and dirty, but it does the job.

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dpkg --get-selections "*" | grep -iv "lib" | grep -iv "deinstall" > Desktop/applist.txt

[baptiste]

why not dpkg -l ? it's easier, and made to be read by a human being - more pleasing and with package description. any line starting with "ii" means it's installed and working (presumably), anything else means it doesn't work.

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dpkg -l > ~/list.txt

or

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dpkg -l|less 

dpkg --get-selections is more for getting a raw list of names, especially if you get the first column with awk or something. I heard of it as a way to back up the list of installed packages, but for other purpose I have only used dpkg -l for years.
you can also do something like dpkg -l|grep web, dpkg -l|grep browser etc.

[gordintoronto]

Cool! Different formats for different purposes.

[jjaythomas]

I Believe that the 'Mint' backup tool (system>backup tool) button to backup 'software selection' call the same command. Then from the 'restore button' you can read or cut and paste (print) the list before commiting to a restore.

J.Jay