The n
does the same thing in both cases, removes config files that would otherwise be saved so for simplicities sake I will exclude that from the examples.
-R
removes a package and if there is a dependency problem it just stops.
-Rs
removed a package and it’s dependencies, recursively. If the thing you are trying to remove is required by something else, it throws an error.
-Rc
removes a package. If dependencies get in the way, it removes those as well.
-Rcs
is the same as -Rc
except it does so recursively.
Combining -Rc
and -Rs
is somewhat dangerous as it will go fully down the dependency tree and then aggressively cascade back up. I only use that when I really want to rip and tear and am willing to accept some collateral damage such as when removing an entire DE and not wanting to leave any remnants behind.
-Rc
without the s
is pretty much what almost every non Arch-based distro does by default when you remove a package.
As long as you don’t combine it with s
it shouldn’t be an issue.