Software Packaging

Software Package Structure

The difference between a containment relationship and a reference relationship can be illustrated by the notion that a bundle can be removed without actually removing the software elements that it references. However, removing a product always removes the filesets it contains, and the files contained in the filesets.

Table 2-1 provides a summary of a software package's structural elements, their functions, and their relationship to other elements. The structural elements are numbered to correspond with Figure 2-2 on page 22:

Table 2-1

Structural Elements: Functions and Relationships

 

 

 

 

 

StructuralFunctionRelationship

 

Element

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Installed

A delivered and

The installed software is a

 

Software (1)

installed software

valid and complete

 

 

package.

software package.

 

 

 

 

 

Product (2)

A collection of related

A product is a container

 

 

filesets and optionally,

for filesets, subproducts,

 

 

subproducts and

and optionally, control

 

 

control scripts.

scripts.

 

 

 

 

 

Bundle (3)

A collection of related

A bundle is a reference

 

 

filesets, subproducts,

for groups of filesets,

 

 

and/or products.

subproducts, or products.

 

 

 

 

 

Fileset (4)

A grouping of related

A fileset is a container

 

 

files and control

for files and control

 

 

scripts.

scripts.

 

 

 

Filesets are contained in

 

 

 

products.

 

 

 

 

 

Subproduct (5)

A grouping of related

A subproduct is a

 

 

filesets.

reference for groups of

 

 

 

related filesets within a

 

 

 

single product.

 

 

 

 

 

Control File (6)

A control file performs

Control files (scripts) are

 

 

checks and other tasks

contained in one or more

 

 

in the software

filesets and/or products.

 

 

package.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2

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