Введение

Система управления пакетами Ubuntu происходит от аналогичной системы, используемой в дистрибутиве Debian GNU/Linux. Файлы пакетов содержат все необходимую информацию по необходимым файлам, метаданным и инструкциям по осуществлению специфического функционала или программному обеспечению на вашем Ubuntu компьютере.

Debian package files typically have the extension '.deb', and usually exist in repositories which are collections of packages found on various media, such as CD-ROM discs, or online. Packages are normally in a pre-compiled binary format; thus installation is quick, and requires no compiling of software.

Many complex packages use the concept of dependencies. Dependencies are additional packages required by the principal package in order to function properly. For example, the speech synthesis package festival depends upon the package libasound2, which is a package supplying the ALSA sound library needed for audio playback. In order for festival to function, it and all of its dependencies must be installed. The software management tools in Ubuntu will do this automatically.