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about_PackageManagement

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Short description

PackageManagement is an aggregator for software package managers.

Long description

PackageManagement functionality was introduced in Windows PowerShell 5.0.

PackageManagement is a unified interface for software package management systems; you can run PackageManagement cmdlets to perform software discovery, installation, and inventory (SDII) tasks. Regardless of the underlying installation technology, you can run the common cmdlets in the PackageManagement module to search for, install, or uninstall packages; add, remove, and query package repositories; and run queries on a computer to determine which software packages are installed.

PackageManagement supports a flexible plug-in model that enables support for other software package management systems.

The PackageManagement module is included with Windows PowerShell 5.0 and later releases of PowerShell, and works on three levels of package management structure: package providers, package sources, and the packages themselves. Let us define some terms:

  • Package manager: Software package management system. In PackageManagement terms, this is a package provider.
  • Package provider: PackageManagement term for a package manager. Examples can include Windows Installer, Chocolatey, and others.
  • Package source: A URL, local folder, or network shared folder that you configure package providers to use as a repository.
  • Package: A piece of software that a package provider manages, and that is stored in a specific package source.

The PackageManagement module includes the following cmdlets. For more information, see the PackageManagement help.

  • Get-PackageProvider: Returns a list of package providers that are connected to PackageManagement.
  • Get-PackageSource: Gets a list of package sources that are registered for a package provider.
  • Register-PackageSource: Adds a package source for a specified package provider.
  • Set-PackageSource: Sets properties on an existing package source.
  • Unregister-PackageSource: Removes a registered package source.
  • Get-Package: Returns a list of installed software packages.
  • Find-Package: Finds software packages in available package sources.
  • Install-Package: Installs one or more software packages.
  • Save-Package: Saves packages to the local computer without installing them.
  • Uninstall-Package: Uninstalls one or more software packages.

Package Provider Bootstrapping and Dynamic Cmdlet Parameters

By default, PackageManagement ships with a core bootstrap provider. You can install additional package providers as you need them by bootstrapping the providers; that is, responding to a prompt to install the provider automatically, from a web service. You can specify a package provider with any PackageManagement cmdlet; if the specified provider is not available, PackageManagement prompts you to bootstrap (or automatically install) the provider. In the following examples, if the Chocolatey provider is not already installed, PackageManagement bootstrapping installs the provider.

Find-Package -Provider Chocolatey <PackageName>

If the Chocolatey provider is not already installed, when you run the preceding command, you are prompted to install it.

Install-Package <Chocolatey package Name> -ForceBootstrap

If the Chocolatey provider is not already installed, when you run the preceding command, the provider is installed; but because the ForceBootstrap parameter has been added to the command, you are not prompted to install it; both the provider and the package are installed automatically.

When you try to install a package, if you do not already have the supporting provider installed, and you do not add the ForceBootstrap parameter to your command, PackageManagement prompts you to install the provider.

Specifying a package provider in your PackageManagement command can make dynamic parameters available that are specific to that package provider. When you run Get-Help for a specific PackageManagement cmdlet, a list of parameter sets are returned, grouping dynamic parameters for available package providers in separate parameter sets.

More Information About the PackageManagement Project

For more information about the PackageManagement open development project, including how to create a PackageManagement package provider, see the PackageManagement project on GitHub at https://oneget.org.

See also