Package Formats&Repositories

Package Formats

DPKG / APT

Debian Package Manager / Advanced Packaging Tool - used by Debian and derivatives (e.g. Ubuntu).

.rpm

RedHat Package Manager Packages, used by Linux distributions - see http://www.rpm.org/max-rpm/index.html .

.pkg

Solaris Packages

.msi / .cab

Windows Packages, see http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa369425.aspx .

ports

Used by BSDs - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ports_collection .

Capabilities

Name	Patches	Dependencies	API	virtual Packages	customization	Installation on Demand	Advertisement	User Installation	Administrative Installation	Usage Metrics	Tagging	Repository	System Maintenance
Red Hat Package Manager	partly:SuSE	yes: "provides", "requires"	?	yes	no	no	no	no (though workaround)	no (though workaround)	no	?	yes: yum, apt	yes: yum, apt
Solaris Packages	yes	yes:	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Debian Packages	no	yes: "depends", "recommends", "conflicts", "suggests", "replaces", "pre-depends", "breaks"	yes: libapt-pkg	yes	no	no	no	no (though workaround)	no (though workaround)	no	yes: "priority", "section"	yes: apt	yes: apt
Mac OS X bundles	yes	yes	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?

For a comparison of features see: http://kitenet.net/~joey/pkg-comp/

Repositories

Name	Products	Packages	Patches	Dependencies	API	customization	Installation on Demand	Advertisement	User Installation	Administrative Installation	Usage Metrics	Tagging	Repository	System Maintenance
MS Windows Installer	yes	no	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no	system only
apt	yes: gnome-app-install
yum	-	yast2 / zypper
Mac OS X bundles	yes	yes	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?

Product View

dpkg/apt gnome-app-install

rpm/zypper yast2

rpm/yum

Mac OS X bundles

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