CUPS Removal Script

A Python script to completely remove CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) and associated services from Linux systems.

Features

• Removes CUPS installations from both APT and Snap
• Stops and disables CUPS-related systemd services
• Cleans up residual files and directories
• Handles errors gracefully to ensure complete removal

Components Affected

Services Stopped and Disabled

• cups.service
• cups.socket
• cups.path
• cups-browsed.service
• cups-proxyd.service

APT Packages Removed

• cups
• cups-bsd
• cups-client
• cups-common
• cups-core-drivers
• cups-daemon
• cups-filters
• cups-filters-core-drivers
• cups-ppdc
• cups-server-common
• cups-browsed

Snap Packages Removed

• cups
• cups-browsed
• cups-proxyd

Directories and Files Cleaned

• /etc/cups/
• /var/spool/cups/
• /var/cache/cups/
• /var/log/cups/
• /var/lib/cups/
• /var/snap/cups/

Prerequisites

• Python 3
• Root privileges
• Linux system with systemd

Installation

1. Clone this repository or download the cups.py script.
2. Make the script executable:

   chmod +x cups-free.py

Usage

Run the script as root:

 sudo ./cups-free.py

What Happens When You Run the Script?

• Systemd Services: The script checks if each CUPS-related service is active and only attempts to stop or disable it if it is running. If a service is already inactive or not loaded, the script skips the action without errors.
• APT Packages: The script removes all CUPS-related packages installed via APT and cleans up dependencies using apt-get autoremove.
• Snap Packages: The script removes CUPS and its associated Snap packages if installed.
• File Cleanup: It deletes all remaining files and directories related to CUPS, ensuring no residual configuration or data remains.

Error Handling

The script includes robust error handling:

• Continues execution if services are not active or loaded
• Logs errors during package removal or file deletion without stopping
• Gracefully handles missing Snap packages

Warning

This script will completely remove CUPS and all associated components. Ensure you don't need printing services before running it.

Troubleshooting

• Check terminal output for any error messages
• Ensure an active internet connection for package removal
• If a specific component fails to remove, you can manually remove it using the appropriate system commands

Contributing

Contributions to improve the script are welcome. Please submit a pull request or open an issue to discuss proposed changes.

License

This script is open-source and available under the MIT license. Feel free to modify and distribute it as needed.