apt-get
     -s        simulate
     install   install the named package
     (apt.conf defines commonly used options)
     
  apt-setup    sets up /etc/apt/sources.list

  dselect      select packages to install
  apt-get dselect-upgrade
               actually install those packages

  dpkg-reconfigure
     --all     make sure all packages have been configured

  dpkg
     -s        get status of a package
     -L        list files from a package
     -S        who owns this file?
     -i        install this .deb file