DNF

Spec sheet

Purpose

DNF is described as the next-generation replacement for YUM.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Intended users

A documented use case is for system administrators to ensure an operating system has specified packages, files, providers, or groups.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

License

Fedora's package page lists DNF's licenses as GPL-2.0-or-later AND GPL-1.0-only.Read 12 Oct 2026 · packages.fedoraproject.org

API stability

The documented Python API follows semantic versioning, and undocumented API elements may change between releases.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Automation

DNF Automatic can check for updates and be configured to notify, download packages, or download and install them using systemd timers.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Compatibility caveat

DNF and YUM can be installed side by side, but they do not share transaction data, which can limit decisions such as autoremove.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Dependency resolution

YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Deprecated feature

DNF documentation says modularity is deprecated and its functionality will be removed in a future DNF5 release.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Developer API

DNF provides a Python API for plugins and applications that embed DNF to perform package management tasks.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Install packages

The install command installs requested packages and their dependencies, and can also accept module or group specifications.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Maintainers

Fedora's package page lists five maintainers: jmracek, dmach, jrohel, pkratoch, and mblaha.Read 12 Oct 2026 · packages.fedoraproject.org

Offline installation

YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Operational caveat

The FAQ says DNF and YUM do not share additional data about installed packages and transactions, which can limit how completely autoremove handles dependencies when both are used.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Package formats

RPM packages; modulemd modules; comps groups and environmentsRead 22 Sep 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Package management

DNF lets users install packages from repositories or local RPM files, including packages selected by version, URL, group, or provided file path.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Package queries

DNF can list RPM packages filtered by whether they are installed, available, extra, obsolete, recent, or upgrades.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Package removal

The remove command can uninstall specified packages and remove older versions of duplicated packages.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Private registry auth

YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Python API

The Python API is intended for plugins that extend a system's DNF installation and applications that embed DNF for package management tasks.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Reporting

DNF Automatic can report results through standard output, custom commands, email, or a message of the day file.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Repositories

DNF uses enabled repositories to obtain package data and can cache their metadata.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Security updates

DNF Automatic can be configured to consider only updates with an issued security advisory.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Supported platforms

RPM-based Linux distributionsRead 22 Sep 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Transaction history

The history command displays past transactions and can act on that information when history recording is enabled.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Update reporting

DNF Automatic can report results through standard output, email, MOTD messages, or configured command emitters.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

YUM compatibility

The FAQ says a CLI compatibility layer is available by installing dnf-yum, while noting that differences between the package managers still apply.Read 12 Oct 2026 · dnf.readthedocs.io

Where Specifiction places it

• App Installation#8 of 247.8
• Package Managers#64 of 937.6