Amazon Linux instances come preconfigured with YUM (Yellowdog Updater Modified) as the default package manager. While YUM is powerful, many developers prefer apt-get's syntax and behavior from their Debian/Ubuntu experience. Here's how to bridge this gap.

The Amazon Linux repositories don't contain the apt package because:

• Amazon Linux is derived from RHEL/CentOS (RPM-based)
• apt is designed for DEB packages (Debian/Ubuntu systems)
• Mixing package managers can cause system instability

Instead of trying to install apt on YUM, consider these better solutions:

Option 1: Use Docker for Debian-based Environments

Run a Debian/Ubuntu container alongside your Amazon Linux instance:

sudo yum install docker -y
sudo service docker start
sudo docker run -it ubuntu:latest /bin/bash

Option 2: Convert Packages Using Alien

For individual packages, you can convert between formats:

sudo yum install alien -y
alien -r package.deb  # Converts to .rpm
sudo rpm -i package.rpm

Option 3: Compile from Source

When you absolutely need a Debian-style package:

wget http://ftp.debian.org/debian/pool/main/a/apt/apt_2.4.9.tar.xz
tar xvf apt_2.4.9.tar.xz
cd apt-2.4.9/
./configure
make

Warning: This may conflict with existing YUM installations.

Instead of mixing package managers, we recommend:

• Stick with YUM for Amazon Linux system packages
• Use containers (Docker/LXC) for Debian-based applications
• Consider switching to Ubuntu Server AMI if apt is required

Here's a quick reference for common package operations:

apt command	yum equivalent
apt update	yum check-update
apt upgrade	yum update
apt install package	yum install package
apt remove package	yum remove package
apt search pattern	yum search pattern

---

When working with Amazon Linux EC2 instances, you'll immediately notice they use yum as the default package manager (or dnf in newer versions). This can be problematic if:

• You're more familiar with Debian-based systems
• Need packages only available in .deb format
• Have automation scripts written for apt-get

The command sudo yum install apt fails because:

1. 'apt' isn't in Amazon's default repositories
2. RPM and DEB packages aren't directly compatible
3. The underlying systems have different dependency structures

Option 1: Use alien for Package Conversion

Install the alien package converter:

sudo yum install -y alien

Then convert .deb packages:

sudo alien --to-rpm package.deb
sudo rpm -i package.rpm

Option 2: Enable EPEL Repository

For some apt-like functionality:

sudo amazon-linux-extras install epel
sudo yum install -y epel-release

Option 3: Containerized Approach

Run Debian/Ubuntu containers when needed:

sudo yum install -y docker
sudo systemctl start docker
sudo docker run -it ubuntu bash

• Mixing package managers can cause system instability
• Amazon Linux is optimized for yum/rpm packages
• Consider migrating to Ubuntu Server AMI if apt is essential

For development environments where apt is non-negotiable, you can:

# Install basic dpkg tools
sudo yum install -y dpkg

# Manually download apt packages
wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/a/apt/apt_2.0.2_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i apt_2.0.2_amd64.deb

Note: This may require resolving numerous dependencies manually.

For advanced users needing both systems:

# Create new volume for Debian
aws ec2 create-volume --size 20 --region us-west-2 --availability-zone us-west-2a

# Attach to instance
aws ec2 attach-volume --volume-id vol-123456 --instance-id i-123456 --device /dev/sdf

# Then install Debian/Ubuntu on the new volume and switch between them