linux to upgrade specific packages

Chances are, you have installed a lot of things in your beloved system.  Some, if not most, packages are installed once but seldom used that you prefer not wasting time upgrade.  Or, you enjoy having full control over everything.

Usually on a GUI desktop, an icon at menu bar will remind you if any packages upgrade.  For example in mx linux, a parcel (package) icon will turn green.  You could click it to upgrade all.

Instead, open a terminal window:

1. update package list

    sudo apt update

2. show available upgrades

    apt list --upgradable

Now you have 3 options:

3a. if want to upgrade all, not care what

    sudo apt upgrade

  

3b. install a package and all its dependencies 

    sudo apt install --upgrade  some-package

3c. install one and only one package

    sudo apt install --only-upgrade   some-package