Glossary · Automation software engineering and architecture
Software package
Also known as: Package
German: Softwarepaket
In software distribution, a software package is an archive containing software files together with metadata such as name, version, dependencies and installation instructions, installable by a package manager or installer.
- Software engineering
In one sentence
A software package is an archive of software files plus metadata such as version and dependencies, installed by a package manager.
Example
The HMI add-on is delivered as a software package that the installer checks for the required runtime version before copying the files.
How it applies
- Engineering: Packages are built by the pipeline and stored in an artifact repository. Signed packages allow target systems to verify their origin.
- Maintenance: Package metadata tells operators exactly what is installed. A consistent package inventory simplifies Patch management and vulnerability tracking.
- Documentation: Installation documentation should identify packages by name and version and state dependencies and installation order. Documentation packages, such as online help, can be delivered as packages too and versioned with the software.
Software package vs. release package
A software package is an installable unit. A Release package is the full delivery of a release, which can contain several software packages plus documents and checksums.