namedepends

Namedepends is a concept used in some package managers and build systems to declare software dependencies by a stable, human‑readable name rather than by opaque identifiers such as URLs or cryptographic hashes. In a namedepends model, a manifest lists required packages using their names along with optional version constraints and qualifiers (for example, libfoo >= 1.3.2, libbar ^2.0). The idea is to separate the identity of a dependency from its retrieval method, enabling clearer audits and easier interoperability across environments.

Mechanism: a central or distributed registry maintains mappings from package names to specific versioned artifacts. When a project is built, a dependency resolver consults the registry, applies version constraints, and selects a concrete set of package versions that satisfy all constraints, including transitive dependencies. Lockfiles or similar mechanisms capture the resolved namespace to ensure reproducible builds.

Differences and scope: namedepends contrasts with systems that refer to dependencies by URLs, hashes, or opaque internal IDs. It emphasizes readability, governance of the dependency graph, and centralized decision-making about compatibility. In practice, namedepends patterns can coexist with ecosystem features such as optional dependencies, virtual environments, and multiple registries.

Adoption and considerations: the approach requires reliable registries and governance to avoid bottlenecks or single points of failure. It benefits teams that value auditability and uniform naming, but may introduce registry dependency and name collisions if naming policies are not carefully managed. See also: package registries, semantic versioning, and lockfiles.