pkgsrc

pkgsrc is a cross-platform packaging system and collection of build scripts, patches, and infrastructure used to compile and package software for Unix-like systems. It originated in the NetBSD project as a portable successor to its original packaging system and has been maintained as a separate project since the 1990s. The repository provides package descriptions for thousands of programs and supports both building from source and distributing binary packages where available.

The core concept of pkgsrc is the pkgsrc tree, a hierarchical directory structure of categories and packages. Each package includes a Makefile and metadata that describe how to fetch the upstream source, apply patches, resolve dependencies, and install the software. The build process is driven by standard make targets. A bootstrap step installs the minimal toolchain on a new system, after which users update the pkgsrc tree and build or install packages with a few commands.

Although rooted in NetBSD, pkgsrc runs on many Unix-like systems, including Linux and macOS, and is used on several other platforms. It supports building from source and, where available, binary packages in configured repositories, enabling flexible deployment across diverse environments.

Package management with pkgsrc combines with platform-specific tooling to install, upgrade, or remove software. The pkgsrc project is maintained by a community of volunteers and coordinated within the NetBSD ecosystem, with regular updates to keep pace with upstream software and changing platform requirements.