Aptkit allows users to perform package management tasks, refreshing the cache, upgrading the system, installing or removing software packages.

It provides the following main features:

- D-Bus interface to write clients in several languages - Modules and widgets to write clients in Python3/GTK3 - CLI tools - Runs only if required (D-Bus activation) - Fine grained privilege management using PolicyKit, e.g. allowing all desktop user to query for updates without entering a password - Support for media changes during installation from DVD/CDROM - Support for debconf (Debian's package configuration system) - Support for attaching a terminal to the underlying dpkg call