Can’t install packages in Linux

[Stlerfn]

I am very new to Linux and am trying to install the Python package, but I keep getting into an infinite loop of “Waiting for cache lock: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock-front end. It is held by process 3792 (apt)” The command I was trying to use was “sudo apt install python” am I doing something wrong? P.S. This is also happening with Java JDK installer, the command I was using for that one was “sudo apt install oracle-java14-installer” I am using Linux Mint 20 if it helps.

[kelvinhall05]

Seems like you're trying to install multiple things at once. Either kill 3792 or just reboot your system.

[Eigenvektor]

31 minutes ago, Stlerfn said:

“Waiting for cache lock: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock-front end. It is held by process 3792 (apt)” The command I was trying to use was “sudo apt install python” am I doing something wrong?

It sounds like some other installation/update process is already running. "apt" is (on possible) package manager for Ubuntu. So either wait until it is done, kill it or reboot.

 

You can install multiple things with a single command e.g. "apt-get install <a> <b> <c>", but you can't run "apt-get install <a>" in one terminal and "apt-get install <b>" in another terminal at the same time.

[WereCatf]

42 minutes ago, Stlerfn said:

I am very new to Linux and am trying to install the Python package, but I keep getting into an infinite loop of “Waiting for cache lock: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock-front end. It is held by process 3792 (apt)” The command I was trying to use was “sudo apt install python” am I doing something wrong? P.S. This is also happening with Java JDK installer, the command I was using for that one was “sudo apt install oracle-java14-installer” I am using Linux Mint 20 if it helps.

Like others said, apt is already in use. Ubuntu periodically updates package-lists and installs security-updates and since Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, that might be what's going on.

[Kilrah]

Do NOT kill it, just wait 15 minutes and try again. Ubuntu based distros will silently auto check for updates in the background and while that's going you can't use apt.