Package format

A package format (AKA Package) is a type of archive containing computer programs and additional metadata needed by package managers.^[1] While the archive file format itself may be unchanged, package formats bear additional metadata, such as a manifest file or certain directory layouts. Packages may contain either source code or executable files.

Packages may be converted from one type to another with software such as Alien.

^ Justin Angelo Cappos, Stork: Secure Package Management for VM Environments^{[permanent dead link]}, ProQuest, 2008, p. 128;

[1] Justin Angelo Cappos, Stork: Secure Package Management for VM Environments^{[permanent dead link]}, ProQuest, 2008, p. 128;

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