TOPIC
about_PackageManagement
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 Windows PowerShell, and works on three levels of package management
structure: package providers, package sources, and the packages themselves.
Term Description
---------- ------------------------------
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. You can find the
Help for these cmdlets on TechNet starting on the following page:
http://technet.microsoft.com/library/dn890951(v=wps.640).aspx.
Cmdlet Description
---------- ------------------------------
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.
PackageManagement 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
Get-PackageProvider
Get-PackageSource
Register-PackageSource
Set-PackageSource
Unregister-PackageSource
Get-Package
Find-Package
Install-Package
Save-Package
Uninstall-Package
