Pacman

Spec sheet

Purpose

Pacman manages software packages on Linux systems.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Support

The project asks users to report bugs to its GitLab issue tracker with details such as the command line and the nature of the bug.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

License

The project page says pacman is licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Founded

2002Read 28 Sep 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Bug reporting

The project page directs users to report bugs through its issue tracker with details such as the command line and bug description.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Database queries

Its query operations can show installed packages, their files, and package metadata such as dependencies, conflicts, dates, and size.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Dependencies

Pacman supports dependencies and automatically resolves required packages when installing from remote repositories.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Development support

A mailing list is devoted to pacman development, and the project page links to its archives and subscription.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Download behavior

The manual documents filesystem and syscall restrictions for the download sandbox on Linux, with options to disable them.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Download sandbox

The project history says version 7.0 added support for performing downloads in a separate sandboxed process.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Hooks

The project history says version 5.0 added support for pre- and post-transaction hooks.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Key management

pacman-key manages the PGP keyring used to check signed packages and databases, and can import or export keys and update the trust database.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Library

Pacman is a front end to libalpm, the Arch Linux Package Management library, which allows alternative front ends to be written.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Package building

The companion makepkg utility automates package builds using a custom build script called a PKGBUILD.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Package format

Pacman packages use a zipped tar format.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Package operations

It can add, remove, upgrade, and query packages and can resolve dependencies automatically.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Package queries

Pacman can query installed packages, their files, and package metadata such as dependencies, conflicts, install date, build date and size.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Package signing

The project history says version 4.0 added package signing and verification capabilities using GnuPG and GPGME.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Package sources

It can download packages from remote servers and synchronize with remote repositories.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Parallel downloads

The project history says version 6.0 added support for parallel downloads.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Repository sync

Pacman can synchronize packages with remote repositories and upgrade out-of-date packages.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Sandboxed downloads

The project history says version 7.0 added support for downloading in a separate sandboxed process.Read 12 Oct 2026 · pacman.archlinux.page

Where Specifiction places it

• Package Managers#93 of 936.7