PackIds

PackIds are unique identifiers assigned to a collection of related assets or components within a software ecosystem. They are used to reference, manage, and track a pack across systems, pipelines, and tools, enabling consistent handling of bundles such as libraries, asset packs, or data sets.

PackIds enable precise versioning and provenance. A pack may be a bundle of assets, a library, or a data set. The PackId is typically stable for a given pack version and is used by build tools, package managers, asset stores, and deployment pipelines to fetch, verify, and cache content. This stability helps reproduce builds and audit changes over time.

Formats of PackIds vary. Common forms include a UUID or GUID, a cryptographic hash such as SHA-256 of the pack contents, or a composite string that includes publisher, name, and version. Example forms might resemble a UUID like 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000 or a structured form such as pack:[email protected], depending on the hosting system.

Generation and lifecycle: PackIds are typically generated automatically by the hosting system at publish time. They may be immutable for a given version, enabling reproducible builds, while a new version yields a new PackId. Some ecosystems also publish a mapping from PackId to metadata such as publisher, description, and dependencies.

Usage in metadata and pipelines: manifests or lockfiles reference PackIds and versions to resolve dependencies, verify integrity via checksums, and support caching and auditing. PackIds thus play a central role in dependency management, content delivery, and provenance tracking.

Security and governance: signing and verifiable provenance may accompany PackIds; access controls and publisher attribution help prevent tampering and misattribution. See also: package ID, content-addressable storage, semantic versioning, UUID.