softwareupdate

Check for new and updated versions of your software based on information about your computer and current software.

Syntax
     softwareupdate command [args ...]

Options

   -l | --list
		 List all available updates.

   -d | --download

   -i | --install
		 Each update specified by args is downloaded, unarchived, and
		 installed.  This command requires root.  args can be one of
		 the following:

		 item ...    One or more update names.

		 -a | --all  All available active updates.

		 -r | --req  All required active updates.

   --ignore ...
        Manage the per-user list of ignored updates.

   --reset-ignored
        Clear the list of all ignored updates.

   --schedule on
   --schedule off
	     Enable or disable automatic checking.

   -h | --help
		 Print command usage.

Examples

The following examples are shown as given to the shell:

 $ softwareupdate --list

	   ! iPhoto-2.0
	       iPhoto, 2.0, 34100K [recommended]
	   ! iSync-1.0
	       iSync, 1.0, 4840K [recommended]
	   ! StuffItExpander7-7.0
	       StuffIt Expander Security Update, 7.0, 4420K [recommended]

$ softwareupdate --install iCal-1.0.2

	   Software Update Tool
	   Copyright 2002-2003 Apple Computer, Inc.

	   Installing iCal:
	   0...10...20...30...40...50...60...70...80...90...100 Done.

$ softwareupdate --ignore iCal iPhoto

$ softwareupdate --schedule

	   Automatic check is on

File: /usr/sbin/softwareupdate
Variable: COMMAND_LINE_INSTALL Set when downloading or installing using the softwareupdate command. Scripts can check for the existence of this variable to determine if they are executing in a command line environment (i.e. there may be no WindowServer available).

This page is based on the Leopard version of Softwareupdate.

Related:

softwareupdate man page - Apple.com
install - Copy files and set attributes