It would have had the same problem had I let it. The problem is it when you install VS Code, it has some unmet dependencies and in fixing them it wants to remove 8 essential packages and this breaks apt which then gets in a funny state.

No one wants to see this scary message! So I think I may have to use the Code.headmelted.com version on Hyper-V for a while and see if this gets resolved with the next update of VS Code. Ah the jots of software development…

This is the command you use to update your system, fetch and install software. Some people use apt-get, others plain apt and the two appear interchangeable but they are NOT the same. As it’s making a change to the system, you almost always have to run it via sudo.

They are different?

Well yes. Try these.

apt --help

apt-get --help

Those give different help messages. And as for these:

apt check

apt-get check

It’s curious that apt-get check works, but apt check gives an invalid operation! I’m not sure why they are so similar yet subtly different. If anyone knows, drop me a line.

Having created this post, I subsequently did find out the differences- explained on this page. The simplified version is the apt is a simpler subset and also shows a progress bar when you do sudo apt upgrade. Try sudo apt-get upgrade next time to see it without the progress bar!