Best Package Managers for Linux of 2025

Homebrew serves as the missing package manager for macOS and Linux, providing a script that outlines its intended actions before executing them. It effectively installs software that Apple or your Linux distribution may not provide by default, placing packages in dedicated directories and creating symlinks in /usr/local for macOS Intel systems. This package manager ensures that installations remain within its designated prefix, allowing for flexible placement of Homebrew installations. Users can easily create their own Homebrew packages, as the underlying technology involves Git and Ruby, which facilitates simple reversion of changes and merging of updates. Homebrew formulas are straightforward Ruby scripts that enhance the functionality of macOS or Linux systems. Furthermore, RubyGems can be installed using the gem command, while Homebrew manages their dependencies through the brew command. For macOS users, Homebrew Cask enables the installation of applications, fonts, and plugins, including proprietary software, with the process of creating a cask being as easy as writing a formula. This simplicity encourages users to explore and customize their software environment further.

eAuditor Cloud is an all-encompassing SaaS solution designed for managing IT assets, ensuring security, monitoring performance, and safeguarding data. Leveraging over two decades of expertise in both corporate and public sectors, it merges reliable functionality with the flexibility and scalability offered by cloud technology. This platform delivers complete oversight and management of IT infrastructure, encompassing everything from automated inventory tracking of computers, servers, operating systems, and software to ongoing surveillance of user activity, devices, and network performance. Its advanced features encompass remote management capabilities, patch deployment, BitLocker encryption, a SOC dashboard, and automation of various tasks. A robust Data Loss Prevention (DLP) engine ensures the protection of sensitive information whether it is actively used, stored, or transmitted, utilizing classification, rules, and established policies. Additionally, support for AI-driven CMD/PowerShell functionalities and integration with ChatGPT enables administrators to streamline processes and reduce the burden of repetitive tasks. Notably, eAuditor Cloud is designed to scale alongside your organization, offering a complimentary version for up to 100 devices as well as sophisticated enterprise-level options, ensuring that it meets varying business needs effectively. This adaptability not only enhances operational efficiency but also provides peace of mind regarding IT security and asset management.

Helm simplifies the management of Kubernetes applications, while Helm charts allow users to define, install, and upgrade even the most intricate Kubernetes applications. These charts are not only user-friendly to create and publish, but they also facilitate easy versioning and sharing, making Helm an essential tool to eliminate redundant copy-and-paste efforts. By detailing even the most sophisticated applications, charts ensure consistent installation practices and act as a central authoritative source. They also ease the update process through in-place upgrades and customizable hooks. Furthermore, charts can be easily versioned and hosted on both public and private servers, allowing for flexibility in deployment. Should you need to revert to a previous version, the helm rollback command makes this process straightforward. Helm operates using a packaging format known as charts, which consist of a collection of files that outline a related group of Kubernetes resources. Notably, a single chart can manage the deployment of a simple element, such as a memcached pod, or orchestrate a comprehensive web application stack, including HTTP servers, databases, and caches, showcasing its versatility and power in the Kubernetes ecosystem. This capability to handle both simple and complex deployments makes Helm an indispensable tool for developers and operators alike.

NuGet serves as the package manager specifically designed for the .NET framework. With the help of NuGet client tools, developers can both create and utilize packages effectively. The NuGet Gallery acts as the primary repository where all package developers and users can access a wide variety of packages. If you’re unfamiliar with NuGet, you can begin with a guided tutorial that demonstrates how NuGet enhances your .NET development experience. You can explore countless packages generated and shared by fellow developers within the .NET ecosystem. If you’re interested in creating your very first NuGet package to contribute to the community, our step-by-step guide is an excellent starting point! The command-line utility, nuget.exe, is compatible with Mono 3.2 and later, allowing package creation on Mono platforms. While nuget.exe operates seamlessly on Windows, users have reported some issues when attempting to run it on Linux and OS X systems. To learn more about any given package, you should refer to its listing page on NuGet or any private feed. Each package's page on the NuGet platform features crucial information, including a detailed description, version history, and key usage statistics, empowering developers to make informed decisions. Additionally, the continuous updates to the package listings ensure that users have access to the latest enhancements and features available in the .NET community.

Yarn serves as a dual-purpose tool, functioning both as a package manager and a project manager. It caters to a diverse range of users, from hobbyists to large enterprises, whether you're engaged in quick projects or comprehensive monorepos. With Yarn, you can compartmentalize your project into various sub-components within a single repository. One of its key features is the assurance that an installation that works today will continue to perform consistently in the future. While Yarn may not address every issue you face, it provides a solid base for further solutions. We are committed to redefining the developer experience and questioning conventional practices. As an independent open-source initiative, Yarn is not affiliated with any corporation, and your support is crucial to our success. Yarn has a comprehensive understanding of your dependency tree and takes care of installing it on your disk, so why should Node be responsible for locating your packages? Instead, it is the responsibility of the package manager to notify the interpreter about where the packages are stored on the disk and to handle any relationships and versioning between those packages. This shift in responsibility could enhance the overall efficiency of project management in development environments. Ultimately, Yarn aims to streamline the development process, making it easier for developers to focus on building great software.

Zypper serves as a command-line package management tool, allowing users to install, update, and remove software packages efficiently. Moreover, it provides functionality for repository management, behaving consistently like other command-line utilities. With its array of subcommands, arguments, and options, Zypper allows users to carry out specific tasks efficiently. Its advantages over graphical package managers are noteworthy, as being a command-line tool enables Zypper to operate more rapidly and consume fewer system resources. Additionally, its actions can be easily scripted, which enhances automation capabilities. Zypper is particularly advantageous for servers and remote machines that lack graphical desktop environments, making it a versatile choice for system administrators. To use Zypper, simply type its name followed by the desired command, and you can also include one or more global options directly before the command. Certain commands may require additional arguments for completion. However, it is important to note that executing subcommands within the Zypper shell and utilizing global Zypper options simultaneously is not supported. This limitation should be taken into account when planning to use Zypper for package management tasks.

eoPKG serves as the package manager for the Solus operating system, facilitating the management of installed software packages, allowing users to search for new applications, and applying system updates. Users can modify the system root for eoPKG commands and configure the username and password for connecting to Basic-Auth repositories. Furthermore, it enables the option to provide detailed debug information and backtraces while also allowing users to limit bandwidth usage to a specified numeric value in KBs. The package manager can disable ANSI escape sequences, which are typically used for colorization in output. A successful operation returns a code of 0, while any non-zero return code indicates that an error has occurred during the process. Additionally, users can easily monitor their package management activities through the debug feature, ensuring a more efficient troubleshooting experience.

This application enables users to track the development of a Debian-based distribution through both email notifications and an extensive web interface. The convenience of having all relevant package information centralized in one location is especially valuable for package maintainers, contributors, and advanced users alike, enhancing their ability to stay informed and engaged with the distribution's progress. Additionally, this centralized system streamlines communication and collaboration among the community members.

Nix offers a distinctive methodology for managing packages and configuring systems. It enables the creation of systems that are not only reproducible but also declarative and dependable. By building packages in isolation, Nix guarantees that they are reproducible and free from hidden dependencies, meaning a package that functions properly on one machine will operate identically on another. Additionally, Nix simplifies the sharing of development and build environments across various projects, regardless of the programming languages or tools involved. One of its key features is the prevention of one package's installation or upgrade from disrupting the functionality of others. This capability includes options to revert to earlier versions, ensuring that no package enters an inconsistent state during the upgrade process. By functioning as a purely functional package manager, Nix treats packages as immutable values similar to those in purely functional programming languages like Haskell, where they are constructed by functions devoid of side effects and remain unchanged once built. Consequently, this approach promotes greater reliability and consistency within software environments.

Pacman is a package management tool utilized in Linux environments to handle software installations. It employs straightforward compressed files as its package format and keeps a text-based database, which serves as a structured hierarchy for instances where manual adjustments may be required. Rather than attempting to encompass every function, Pacman focuses on key operations such as adding, removing, and upgrading software packages, while also enabling users to search through the package database for installed items, their associated files, and ownership details. Furthermore, it strives to manage dependencies automatically and can retrieve packages from online servers. The introduction of version 2.0 brought the capability to synchronize packages with a central server via package databases using the -sync option, marking a significant improvement over earlier versions where installations had to be performed manually with --add and -upgrade commands. This evolution not only enhanced user experience but also streamlined the process of keeping software up to date.

This repository contains the code for snapd, which is the background service responsible for managing and maintaining the installed snap packages. Snaps are versatile application packages designed for desktop, cloud, and IoT environments, featuring automatic updates. They are user-friendly, secure, compatible across different platforms, and do not require additional dependencies, making them popular on millions of Linux systems daily. In addition to various service and management capabilities, snapd offers the snap command for installing and removing snaps while facilitating interaction with the broader snap ecosystem. It also enforces confinement policies that keep snaps isolated from the base system and from each other, and it manages the interfaces that allow snaps to utilize specific system resources beyond their confinement. For those interested in installing applications like Spotify or Visual Studio Code, the Snap Store is a great place to explore. Furthermore, if you're keen on creating your own snaps, we recommend starting with our comprehensive documentation on how to build a snap. This documentation will guide you through the essential steps for developing and packaging your apps effectively.

Aptitude serves as a text-based interface that utilizes Ncurses and functions through the command line to provide access to various Apt libraries, which are similarly employed by the default package manager for Debian, Apt. Operating within a terminal environment, Aptitude utilizes a syntax reminiscent of mutt for flexible package matching. Users can designate packages as either "automatically installed" or "manually installed," enabling the automatic removal of packages that are no longer needed, a feature also present in Apt since several Debian iterations. It offers a visual preview of proposed actions, distinguishing each with different colors to indicate the nature of the action. Additionally, Aptitude allows users to interactively access and view the Debian changelog for all available official packages. Its score-based dependency resolver is particularly adept at handling interactive dependency resolution, accommodating user preferences such as excluding certain parts of a solution while retaining others for future attempts. In contrast, Apt's dependency resolver is tailored for effective "one-shot" solutions, making both tools valuable in their own right for managing packages on Debian systems. Overall, Aptitude enhances user control and visibility over package management tasks.

Synaptic is a user-friendly graphical interface for managing packages through the apt system, offering functionalities similar to the apt-get command-line tool but with a more accessible Gtk+ front-end. Users can easily install, uninstall, upgrade, or downgrade both individual and multiple software packages, as well as perform comprehensive system upgrades. The program allows for the management of package repositories through the sources.list file and facilitates searching for packages based on various criteria, including name and description. Additionally, it provides the capability to filter and select packages by their status, section, or customized parameters, while sorting can be done according to name, status, size, or version. Users can explore available online documentation for specific packages and access the latest changelog versions. The tool also includes functionalities to lock packages to their current versions, enforce the installation of particular package versions, and utilize undo/redo features for selection changes. Furthermore, a built-in terminal emulator enhances the package management experience, and for users on Debian/Ubuntu systems, it allows configuration through the debconf system and supports fast searching via Xapian, thanks to contributions from Enrico Zini. Overall, Synaptic is an essential tool for users who prefer a graphical approach to package management while still retaining the powerful capabilities of apt.

The Portage Development Project aims to create a continuously evolving and improving tool for package management and installation. Its developers strive to establish a cohesive system that minimizes issues, focusing on aspects like backward compatibility, automation, and user-friendliness. Issues are identified and resolved through the Gentoo bug tracker, while communication among developers is facilitated via the gentoo-portage-dev mailing list. Additionally, the #gentoo-portage IRC channel on the Libera.Chat network serves as another platform for interaction. The overarching objective of the Portage project is to achieve a smooth integration of tools for both developers and users, thereby enhancing the development and upkeep of Gentoo packages. This involves not only enhancing Portage itself but also improving related tools and ensuring our APIs provide value to other applications in the ecosystem. By fostering collaboration and communication among developers, the project seeks to continually innovate and streamline the package management experience.

Pkgsrc serves as a powerful framework for managing third-party software on UNIX-like operating systems, boasting a repository of over 17,900 packages. It acts as the default package manager for both NetBSD and SmartOS, facilitating the seamless construction of freely available software across a wide array of UNIX-like platforms. Users benefit from the convenience of utilizing binary packages generated by pkgsrc, eliminating the need for source code compilation. This system can effortlessly enhance the software ecosystem of an existing setup. With its remarkable versatility, pkgsrc provides extensive configurability, enabling package builds for any installation prefix, supporting the coexistence of multiple branches on a single machine, and featuring advanced tools like a build options framework and a compiler transformation framework. Furthermore, it accommodates unprivileged usage and installation, broadening accessibility. While NetBSD comes pre-equipped with the necessary tools for pkgsrc, users on alternative platforms must undertake a bootstrap process to install the required package management utilities, ensuring a smooth experience in software management. This adaptability and range of features make pkgsrc an invaluable resource for developers and system administrators alike.

Rudix serves as a build system specifically designed for macOS, previously known as Mac OS X, while offering limited compatibility with OpenBSD, FreeBSD, NetBSD, and Linux. This build system, often referred to as "ports," supplies detailed guidance for compiling third-party software directly from the source code. Beyond merely functioning as a ports framework, Rudix includes a variety of packages and precompiled software packaged neatly in *.pkg files for straightforward installation on your Mac. Those interested in contributing to the project can find it on GitHub at rudix-mac or its mirrored version on GitLab at rudix. Users are encouraged to utilize the GitHub issue tracker for reporting bugs or suggesting new features. Alternatives to Rudix include similar projects like Fink, MacPorts, pkgsrc, and Homebrew, which also aim to simplify software installation on macOS. Packages are meticulously compiled and verified on macOS Big Sur (Version 11, Intel only!), Catalina (Version 10.15), and OS X El Capitan (Version 10.11). Each package is designed to be self-sufficient, containing all necessary components to function properly, with binaries, libraries, and documentation installed in the /usr/local/ directory. Furthermore, Rudix aims to enhance the user experience by providing a cohesive platform for software development and installation on macOS.

This module is not undergoing any active development at the moment. We have ceased the acceptance of pull requests for this repository. OneGet has reached a stable condition and will only be provided with critical bug fixes from Microsoft going forward. Should you have any inquiries or encounter any unforeseen issues with this module, we encourage you to create an issue in the repository. Currently, PackageManagement is compatible with Windows, Linux, and MacOS. Additionally, we regularly release binary updates to PowerShellCore, ensuring that PackageManagement is included in the PowerShell Core distributions. It is important to stay updated on these developments for optimal functionality.

Introducing a decentralized software installation framework that operates seamlessly across Linux, Windows, and macOS platforms. This fully open-source solution allows users to launch applications with just a single click, enabling them to run programs without the need for prior installation. Users can manage all operations through either a command line or a graphical interface, ensuring complete control over their computing experience. The installation process is transparent, eliminating the uncertainty typically associated with software deployment. It supports the combination of both stable and experimental applications on a single system, fostering a versatile software environment. Anyone has the capability to distribute software, empowering developers to create a single package that functions across various platforms. This system allows publishing on any static web host, establishing a decentralized ecosystem devoid of any central authority. Moreover, it features robust dependency management and automatic updates, prioritizing security at every step. Installing an application does not bestow it with administrator privileges, and digital signatures are meticulously verified before any new software is executed. Applications can share libraries while maintaining a level of trust, which enhances security. This framework also introduces automatic self-updating mechanisms, staged rollouts, and numerous enhancements for desktop integration, thereby enriching the overall user experience. With such features, it redefines the way users interact with software on their devices.

Managing software packages on Linux systems, including installing, patching, and removing them, is a fundamental responsibility for system administrators. This guide will help you navigate the basics of package management specifically for Red Hat-based Linux distributions. Package management refers to the process of installing, updating, uninstalling, and monitoring software from designated repositories within the Linux ecosystem. Different Linux distributions utilize various package management tools tailored to their needs. For Red Hat-based systems, the RPM (RPM Package Manager) alongside YUM (Yellow Dog Updater, Modified) or its successor DNF (Dandified YUM) serves this purpose. YUM is the primary tool employed for the tasks of installing, updating, and managing software packages in Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments. It effectively resolves dependencies during the installation, update, and removal of software packages. Additionally, YUM can handle packages sourced from both the installed repositories and .rpm files. There is a wide array of commands and options at your disposal when working with YUM, allowing for flexible management of software on your system. Thus, familiarizing yourself with these commands is crucial for efficient system administration.

The RPM Package Manager (RPM) serves as a robust system for managing software packages, enabling users to compile software from source into easily distributable formats, as well as facilitating the installation, updating, and removal of these packages; it also allows for the querying of extensive details about both installed and uninstalled software packages, along with the ability to verify their integrity and the overall software installation process. Metadata related to the package is contained within the RPM header, a binary data structure that organizes information in specific tags, each associated with a defined meaning and type. Although this metadata is not embedded within the header, it is essential for the code that interprets the header to understand these definitions. In this structure, tags are identified solely by their numerical representation, and each tag can either be a simple scalar type or an array comprising these types. While the type system does not strictly enforce it, the RPM code conventionally assumes that related tags contain the same number of entries, ensuring a consistent organization of data. This design contributes significantly to the effectiveness of the RPM system in managing and maintaining software packages.

The Fortran Package Manager (fpm) serves as both a package manager and a build system specifically designed for Fortran. It boasts a wide array of available packages, contributing to a vibrant ecosystem of both general-purpose and high-performance code, enhancing accessibility for users. Aimed at improving the overall experience for Fortran developers, fpm simplifies the process of building Fortran programs or libraries, executing tests, running examples, and managing dependencies for other Fortran projects. Its design draws inspiration from Rust’s Cargo, creating an intuitive user interface. Additionally, fpm has a long-term vision focused on fostering the growth of modern Fortran applications and libraries. One notable feature of fpm is its plugin system, which facilitates the extension of its capabilities. Among these plugins is the fpm-search project, which enables users to query the package registry effortlessly, and because it is built with fpm, installation on any system is straightforward. This synergy not only streamlines the development process but also encourages collaboration among developers within the Fortran community.

FPM is a versatile tool designed to simplify the process of creating packages for various operating systems, including Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOS, RHEL, Arch Linux, FreeBSD, and macOS, among others. Rather than introducing a new packaging methodology, FPM serves as a facilitator, streamlining the creation of packages for existing systems with minimal effort. This is achieved through its user-friendly command-line interface, which enables users to generate packages with ease. Developed in Ruby, FPM can be installed via the gem package manager. However, for certain package formats, such as RPM and Snap, specific dependencies must be present on your machine to successfully build them. Additionally, when packaging for different operating systems or distributions, you may need to install other tools to ensure compatibility. FPM effectively transforms your software into easily installable packages across multiple platforms, capable of converting any Node.js package, Ruby gem, or Python package into formats like deb, rpm, or pacman. With FPM, the packaging process becomes significantly more efficient, saving developers both time and effort.

Cargo serves as the package manager for Rust, handling tasks such as downloading dependencies, compiling packages, creating distributable versions, and uploading them to crates.io, which is the Rust community's designated package registry. Contributions to this book can be made through GitHub. To begin using Cargo, you need to install both Cargo and Rust, then create your first crate. Through the command-line interface, you will be able to interact with Cargo easily. A Rust crate can be classified as either a library or an executable, known respectively as a library crate or a binary crate. Generally speaking, the term crate can denote the source code of the project or the compiled output it generates. Additionally, it may also refer to a compressed package obtained from a registry. You can create crates that depend on external libraries available on crates.io, other registries, git repositories, or even local subdirectories. Moreover, there is an option to temporarily change the location of a dependency, providing flexibility in your project management. This versatility makes Cargo an essential tool for Rust developers.

Introducing AnyTree — a revolutionary software deployment system utilizing blockchain technology for enhanced security. With AnyTree, developers can rest assured that the applications they distribute or utilize are delivered precisely as intended. The Software Supply Chain represents a critical area of concern, yet there remains a significant deficiency in the secure, trustless, verifiable, and transparent transmission of source code and binaries across all software sectors. When code is stored on a centralized version control system like Git, it creates an ownership model that introduces a singular point of control, ultimately leading to potential security risks. As of now, there is no industry-wide alternative that is decentralized, which means it is not reliant on the choices of a limited number of stakeholders. GOSH addresses this pressing challenge by enabling developers to create consensus around their code, enhancing its security as more contributions are added, thus fostering a more robust software ecosystem. This innovative approach not only protects the integrity of the code but also encourages collaborative development, making it a game-changer in the software industry.

Flox is a versatile tool designed for managing development environments and packages, enabling developers to create, share, and replicate uniform setups across different machines by utilizing the Nix ecosystem. By using a straightforward manifest.toml file, Flox allows for the creation of environments while enabling precise layering and replacement of dependencies as required. It facilitates the activation of subshells with consistent dependencies and incorporates shell hooks, version constraints, and services such as local databases to streamline the setup process. Unlike container-based solutions, Flox operates directly on the host system, ensuring that developers retain access to their files, configurations, SSH keys, and shell aliases without the need for Docker-style bind mounts. Additionally, Flox natively supports cross-platform and multi-architecture environments, ensuring that setups can function consistently across diverse systems; developers have the option to limit environments to specific systems or utilize package groups to effectively manage dependencies tailored to particular architectures. This flexibility makes Flox an invaluable asset for modern development workflows.