metapaket

A metapaket, also known as a metapackage, is a type of software package that does not contain any files itself but instead depends on other packages. It is used primarily to group related packages together, making it easier to install multiple packages at once. Metapackages are commonly used in package management systems to simplify the installation process for users who need a set of related software components.

Metapackages are particularly useful in Linux distributions, where they can be used to install entire desktop environments, such as KDE or GNOME, with a single command. For example, a metapackage for the KDE Plasma desktop environment might depend on packages for the KDE applications, libraries, and configuration files required to run the desktop environment.

Metapackages can also be used to install software suites, such as the LibreOffice office suite or the Apache web server, with all the necessary components and dependencies. This can save users time and effort, as they do not need to manually install and configure each individual package.

In some cases, metapackages can be used to provide a consistent set of software versions across multiple systems. For example, a metapackage for a specific version of a software suite can be used to ensure that all systems in a network are running the same version, which can be important for security and compatibility reasons.

Metapackages are typically created and maintained by the developers of the software they group together. They are distributed through the same package management systems as other software packages, such as APT for Debian-based systems or YUM for Red Hat-based systems. Users can install metapackages using the same commands they would use to install individual packages.