packager

A packager is a term with multiple meanings depending on the context. In logistics and manufacturing, a packager is a person or system responsible for enclosing goods in packaging to protect them during transport, display them for sale, and convey information to customers. This may involve selecting materials, determining sizes and formats, applying labels and barcodes, and ensuring compliance with safety and environmental regulations. In many industries the packager also handles packaging sustainability, waste reduction, and cost control.

In software, a packager is a tool or role that creates distributable software packages. A package includes compiled code, resources, configuration files, and metadata such as version, dependencies, and licensing. The packager converts source or build artifacts into formats suitable for installation, distribution, and updating. Common formats include Debian packages (.deb), Red Hat RPMs (.rpm), Windows Installer MSI files, macOS packages (.pkg), and language-specific formats such as Python wheels (.whl), JavaScript npm packages, and Java JARs with manifest metadata. Package managers (apt, yum/dnf, Homebrew, npm, pip, etc.) automate retrieval, installation, and updates, while signing and checksums help verify integrity.

Workflow typically involves building packages from source or binary artifacts, running tests, generating metadata, signing with cryptographic keys, and publishing to repositories or app stores. The role of a packager may be performed by engineers, release managers, or automated build systems. Packaging practices emphasize reproducibility, security, and compatibility with target platforms, and are central to software distribution, product packaging, and supply chains.