How to cache packages installed from apt-get in bitbucket pipelines?

Question

I need help caching packages in my bitbucket pipeline that were installed via apt-get.

For non-apt-get installed packages you can find the path where packages are installed online. However, I'm not sure what directorie(s) to cache for apt-get installed packages.

For example I have the following command in my pipeline script:

- apt-get update && apt-get install -y curl unzip git

I defined a cache directory in definitions like so:

caches: 
      apt-cache: /var/cache/apt

However, it's only caching 164 bytes and I don't think it's caching all of the packages that are actually installed.

Is there a way to find where these packages are installed so I can cache them?

Drew Gallagher_mq07yz · Accepted Answer

Found another answer on the community here https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Bitbucket-questions/Any-way-to-cache-apt-get-install-y-zip-in-bitbucket-pipelines/qaq-p/622876, thanks @Chase Han

Basically you use the following command in your pipeline script or a local docker image that matches the image you have in the pipeline.

which <package-name-here>

e.g

which git

Then it will output a path where it exists.

e.g.

/usr/bin/git

Then you just need to include the path in your cache definitions that contains that package.

e.g.

caches:

#/usr/bin located packages like git, curl, etc

usr-bin: /usr/bin

And then you can use that cache definition in your steps