The Best Linux Package Managers (2024) reviewed

109

When it comes to working with Linux, regardless of the specific distribution you’re using, the ability to introduce new software to your server is of paramount importance. Every Linux distribution comes equipped with its unique package format, which essentially comprises a blend of essential metadata, configuration settings, and the software itself. Each of these package managers comes with its distinct methodology for acquiring and installing software, ensuring system maintenance, handling software prerequisites, and managing software removal. In essence, the world of Linux is home to a plethora of options, and making the right choice amongst the best Linux package managers is vital for a seamless software management experience.

When picking a Linux distribution, it can be important to be able to work with a certain package manager or that it is easy to use. In this piece, we’ll look at five package managers that we think you should know about. Before we talk about popular package managers, let’s talk about the problem of installing different packages and distributions on all the computers in a company, including servers, desktops, laptops, and even mobile devices.

This is a problem that will come up for many people who are thinking about using specialized versions of Linux distributions in their company. Packagecloud is a cloud-based service for sharing different software packages in a unified, reliable, and scalable way without having to own any infrastructure. You can keep all the packages that need to be shared across all the machines in your company in one repo, no matter what operating system or programming language they use. Then, you can get your packages to your devices quickly and safely without having to own any of the equipment needed to do so.

What is a Linux Package Manager?

An organized collection of software tools is referred to as a package management system, which is also referred to simply as a package manager. This is accomplished by the automation of the procedures of installing computer applications, upgrading those programs, configuring those programs, and removing those programs for an operating system that a computer employs. Every single one of these things is carried out in an efficient manner. A package manager is an individual who is in charge of managing software distributions in addition to packages and the data that is contained within archive files.

Key bits of information that are included in packages include the name of the software, a description of its purpose, a checksum (preferably, a cryptographic hash function), a dependency list, the vendor, and the version number. These are essential components that must be present for the software to operate effectively.

Key Considerations for Choosing a Package Manager

When it comes to selecting a package manager for your Linux distribution, there are a number of crucial considerations that ought to direct your choice. Choosing the package manager that best fits your demands will have a significant impact on the overall quality of the software management experience you get. Each package manager has a unique set of advantages and areas of concentration. The following are the most important factors to keep in mind:

Compatibility with distribution
Not all package managers are the same, and many of them work best with certain Linux versions. Make sure that the package manager you choose works with the system you’re using before you choose it. For example, YUM is often used in Red Hat-based distributions like Fedora and CentOS, while APT is often used in Debian-based distributions like Ubuntu.

• Packages that can be bought: The repository, which is where the package manager gets software from, is a big part of what apps and updates are available. You can get a wide range of software tools from a strong repository. Check to see if the package manager gives you a wide range of items that meet your needs.
• How easy it is to use: For people who are new to Linux or who prefer a graphical user interface, a package manager with an easy-to-use front end can make all the difference. Graphical package managers like Synaptic and Discover make it easier for people who don’t know how to use the command line to look for, install, and update software.
• Taking care of dependencies: Dependencies should be handled well by a good package manager. Dependencies are other pieces of software that a program needs to run. Having a package manager that can handle dependencies automatically and resolve them makes the installation process easier and lowers the chance of conflicts.
• A sense of community and help: When facing problems or looking for help, a strong group and support system can be very helpful. Check to see if there is an active group of users, online forums, and official documentation for the package manager. A group that is doing well usually has more resources and can solve problems faster.
• Release Model: Take into consideration the release methodology used by the package manager as well as the distribution that it is linked with. A rolling release strategy is used by several distributions. This model allows software to be regularly updated. Others adhere to a predetermined release timetable, which might have an impact on when new software versions and upgrades are made available.

Best Linux Package Managers Comparison Table

There is no way for a Linux developer to guarantee that a program built for Linux will operate appropriately on all devices because the software that is installed on each Linux device is unique. This includes the kernel that is used by the device. As a solution to this problem, software packages include a number of dependencies, which are conditions that must be met before the application contained within the package may be used.

Package Manager	Type	Main Distribution	Package Format	Command Line	Dependency Handling	Website Link
APT (Advanced Packaging Tool)	Debian/Ubuntu	DEB	apt-get, apt	Automatic	Advanced	Visit Website
Pacman	Arch Linux	PKGBUILD	pacman	Semi-automatic	Simple	Visit Website
DNF	Fedora/RHEL	RPM	dnf	Automatic	Advanced	Visit Website
Aptitude	Debian/Ubuntu	DEB	aptitude	Automatic	Advanced	Visit Website
Yum	CentOS/RHEL	RPM	yum	Automatic	Basic	Visit Website

Best Linux Package Managers

Let’s first get a grasp on the meaning of the term “package manager” before moving on to the list of available package managers. Simply put, a package manager is a piece of software that allows users to more easily install, uninstall, and manage software packages on a Linux-based computer system. These bundles of pre-compiled software contain all of the essential files and dependencies that are required for software to function properly. They are referred to as packages.

APT (Advanced Packaging Tool)

Features:

Feature	Description
Dependency	Handles dependencies automatically, ensuring required packages are installed.
Version Control	Manages software versions, allowing installation of specific package versions.
Dependency Lock	Supports “pinning” packages to specific versions for consistent installations.
Repository System	Utilizes software repositories for easy access to a wide range of packages.
	Visit Website

APT provides you with about everything you could possibly require from a package management. It is devoid of cost, it has a community that is actively growing, and it possesses an outstanding command-line interface. Its only “weakness” is that it does not come with a graphical user interface built in. Having said that, the majority of distributions that are part of the Debian family come with a graphical user interface that users can utilize.

The user interface of Ubuntu is clean and easy to use, and it provides all of the information that you require. Therefore, if you are looking for a tool that can manage packages for your device that runs Debian, there is no reason to look any farther than APT.

Pacman

Features:

Feature	Description
Simplicity	Focuses on simplicity and minimalism while managing packages.
Fast Operations	Swift package database updates and quick dependency resolution.
Package Signing	Supports package signing to ensure authenticity and security.
Transaction Logs	Maintains logs of package installations, upgrades, and removals.
	Visit Website

Pacman is a package manager that is utilized on Arch Linux and other distributions that are developed from it. Other distributions that use Pacman include Gentoo and Fedora. It is a command-line utility that makes working with simple instructions and does not provide any challenges. When it comes to managing software packages, Pacman relies on the Arch User Repository, which is more commonly referred to as AUR. Users have the opportunity to generate and manage packages through the usage of AUR, which is a repository that is driven by the community.

Pacman is a fantastic choice for more experienced computer users because it provides users with a wide selection of options for modifying the application they install once it has been downloaded. Additionally, the command format is simple, which makes it user-friendly even for people who are not experienced with Linux.

DNF package manager

Features:

Feature	Description
RPM-Based	Utilizes RPM packages for software distribution and management.
Modular Design	Supports modular repositories, allowing flexible and efficient packaging.
Improved Performance	Faster metadata processing and dependency resolution.
Extensibility	Offers plugin support to extend functionality and customize behavior.
	Visit Website

On RPM-based Linux distributions, the DNF (Dandified Packaging Tool) package management allows for the installation, removal, and updating of software packages. It is an improved version of the YUM manager, and its primary purpose is to serve as a suitable substitute for YUM in RPM-based operating systems.
DNF was developed so that YUM could be improved in terms of its performance, the quality of its resolution of dependency conflicts, and the ease with which it could integrate with other applications. Fedora 18 marked the debut of the DNF format. It is currently the package manager that is used by default for Fedora 22, CentOS8, and RHEL8.

DNF has the capability to automatically compute dependencies and determine the steps that need to be taken in order to install packages. It is also much simpler to maintain groups of machines when using DNF because there is no longer a requirement to manually update each individual machine with RPM. DNF has a stringent application programming interface (API) that may be used by extensions and plugins to modify or extend functionality of DNF or provide more CLI commands in addition to regular commands.

Aptitude

Features:

Feature	Description
User Interface	Offers both command-line and graphical interfaces for package management.
Package Tracking	Keeps track of automatically installed packages as dependencies change.
Interactive GUI	Provides a visual interface for package browsing, selection, and actions.
Search Filters	Supports complex searches using various filters for efficient package discovery.
	Visit Website

Aptitude is a package manager that is available to users of Debian and RPM. It is frequently compared to APT. It is a powerful front-end package manager that has its own user interface built right in. The ncurses library serves as the foundation for the user interface, which gives it a variety of features that are often seen in GUIs. Although it is somewhat more sophisticated, it is able to imitate the majority of APT’s command-line options.

On the other hand, it is more advanced than APT is, and the two of them can even operate fairly effectively together when used in conjunction with one another. It has a great deal more depth than APT does, and if you’re searching for a package manager with capabilities that you’ll keep discovering even after you’ve been using it for years, Aptitude might be the right choice for you.

Yum

Features:

Feature	Description
Dependency Solving	Handles complex dependency chains, ensuring software installations are smooth.
Plugin System	Offers extensibility through plugins, enhancing functionality.
RPM Package	Utilizes RPM packages for software distribution, allowing version management.
Package Groups	Organizes software into groups for easier management and installation.
	Visit Website

Yum is a package manager that can be found on Linux distributions that are based on Red Hat, such as CentOS and Fedora. It is a utility for the command line that manages software packages through the use of Yellowdog Updater, Modified (YUM).

Yum’s dependency resolution system is one of the reasons why it’s a useful tool. When customers install new software packages or update existing ones, this feature resolves dependencies automatically, which can save them a significant amount of time. Yum also features an intuitive graphical user interface, which makes it simple to use even for Linux novices.

How to Choose Best Linux Package Managers

Choosing the best Linux package manager relies on many things, such as your distribution, your personal tastes, and the needs of your projects. Most Linux versions come with a package manager by default, but you can also use other tools. Here is a guide to help you choose the best package manager for your needs:

• Package Availability: Make sure that the software you need is supported by the package manager you choose. Check the package manager’s repositories to see if they have a wide range of tools that fit your needs.
• Ease of Use: Think about how easy it is to use the package manager. Some package managers have easy-to-understand interfaces and functions, while others might need you to have more experience.
• Performance: The efficiency of a package manager can be different. Find out how quickly the package manager can look for packages, download them, and install them. This can be very important when a large number of devices are being used.
• Dependencies: A good package manager should know how to deal with dependencies well. It should instantly find and install dependencies so that software installs and runs well.
• Security: Check to see if the package manager has built-in security tools like package verification and sandboxing. Security should be the most important thing, especially in settings where people work.

Questions and Answers