Glossary · Automation software engineering and architecture
Package manager
Also known as: Package management system
German: Paketverwaltung
In software engineering, a package manager is a tool that installs, updates, configures and removes software packages and resolves their dependencies from defined repositories.
- Software engineering
In one sentence
A package manager installs, updates and removes software packages and resolves their dependencies from defined repositories.
Example
The edge device's software team uses the package manager to pin the MQTT client library to a tested version, so builds do not pick up untested updates.
How it applies
- Engineering: Package managers make dependencies explicit and reproducible through lock files and version constraints. Some PLC engineering environments now include package managers for libraries.
- Security: Dependencies pulled from public repositories are a supply-chain risk; teams use internal mirrors, checksums and vulnerability scanning, and keep a software bill of materials.
- Documentation: The list of packages and versions feeds third-party license notices and the software bill of materials delivered with the product. The documentation team should know where this list is generated.
Package manager vs. build system
A package manager obtains and installs the components a project needs. A Build system compiles and assembles the project from its sources and those components. Many ecosystems combine both.