It can be useful to systematically install the same list of packages on several computers. Or keep a list of the installed packages in some computers, to expedite reinstallations. In Debian this can be done quite easily.
First, we save the list of installed packages on the computer:
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$ dpkg --get-selections > pkg-list
Next, If we want to install these packages in another computer,we transfer the pkg-list file onto the computers we want to update. And, in the other computer:
Update dpkg’s database of known packages.
Record the list of available packages in the dpkg database:
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# avail=`mktemp`
# apt-cache dumpavail > "$avail"
# dpkg --merge-avail "$avail"
# rm -f "$avail"
Update dpkg’s selections
Restore the selection of packages that we wish to install:
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# dpkg --set-selections < pkg-list
Install the selected packages
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# apt-get dselect-upgrade
aptitude does not have this command!
Source: The Debian administrator’s handbook - 6.2. aptitude, apt-get, and apt Commands
Enjoy! ;)