DEPEND(5) File Formats and Configurations DEPEND(5)

NAME

depend - software dependencies file

DESCRIPTION

depend is an ASCII file used to specify information concerning
software dependencies for a particular package. The file is created
by a software developer.


Each entry in the depend file describes a single software package.
The instance of the package is described after the entry line by
giving the package architecture and/or version. The format of each
entry and subsequent instance definition is:

type pkg name
(arch)version
(arch)version
...


The fields are:

type
Defines the dependency type. Must be one of the
following characters:

P
Indicates a prerequisite for installation; for
example, the referenced package or versions
must be installed.


I
Implies that the existence of the indicated
package or version is incompatible.


R
Indicates a reverse dependency. Instead of
defining the package's own dependencies, this
designates that another package depends on this
one. This type should be used only when an old
package does not have a depend file, but relies
on the newer package nonetheless. Therefore,
the present package should not be removed if
the designated old package is still on the
system since, if it is removed, the old package
will no longer work.


pkg
Indicates the package abbreviation.


name
Specifies the full package name.


(arch)version
Specifies a particular instance of the software. A
version name cannot begin with a left parenthesis.
The instance specifications, both (arch) and
version, are completely optional, but each
(arch)version pair must begin on a new line that
begins with white space. A null version set equates
to any version of the indicated package.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Sample of depend file

Here are the contents of a sample depend file, for the SUNWftpr (FTP
Server) package, stored in /var/sadm/pkg/SUNWftpr/install:


P SUNWcar Core Architecture, (Root)
P SUNWkvm Core Architecture, (Kvm)
P SUNWcsr Core Solaris, (Root)
P SUNWcsu Core Solaris, (Usr)
P SUNWcsd Core Solaris Devices
P SUNWcsl Core Solaris Libraries
R SUNWftpu FTP Server, (Usr)

SEE ALSO

pkginfo(5)


Application Packaging Developer's Guide

October 4, 1996 DEPEND(5)