Packaging Applications for the Oracle Solaris OS

Software programs must be incorporated into a package to be installed in the Oracle Solaris OS. The Application Packaging Developer’s Guide provides step-by-step instructions and relevant background information for designing, building, and verifying System V, or SVR4 packages on the Oracle Solaris OS. A chapter with case studies provides several package creation examples in a variety of situations. This document also includes descriptions of advanced techniques that you might find to be helpful during the package creation process.

• Unbundled packages, which are not part of the Oracle Solaris OS, can use the class mechanism to customize server/client installations.

• Relocatable packages can be designed to accommodate the desires of the administrator.

• A complex product can be delivered as a set of composite packages that automatically resolve package dependencies.

• A package designer can customize the upgrading and patching process.

• Patched packages can be delivered in the same way as unpatched packages. Archives for backing out the software can also be included in the product.

For OpenSolaris releases, applications can be packaged for the Image Packaging System (IPS). See the OpenSolaris 2010.05 Image Packaging System Guide and Multi-platform Packaging for Layered Distros for more information about application packaging for IPS.