Defining a Package Name (NAME)

A package name is the full name of the package, which is defined by the NAME parameter in the pkginfo file.

Because system administrators often use package names to determine whether a package needs to be installed, writing clear, concise, and complete package names is important. Package names must meet the following criteria:

• State when a package is needed (for example, to provide certain commands or functionality, or state if the package is needed for specific hardware).

• State what the package is used for (for example, the development of device drivers).

• Include a description of the package abbreviation mnemonic, using key words that indicate the abbreviation is a short form of the description. For example, the package name for the package abbreviation SUNWbnuu is “Basic Networking UUCP Utilities, (Usr)”.

• Name the partition into which the package is installed.

• Use terms consistently with their industry meaning.

• Take advantage of the 256–character limit.

Here is an example package name defined in a pkginfo file:

NAME=Chip designers need CAD application software to design
abc chips.  Runs only on xyz hardware and is installed in the
usr partition.