.pkg
| Filename extension |
.pkg |
|---|---|
| Developed by | Apple Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment, Symbian Ltd. |
| Container for | applications |
.pkg is a file format used by Apple Inc. on its Macintosh line of computers,[1][2] and the iPhone. It is also used by Sony's PlayStation 3 on downloadable content over PlayStation Network[3]
The .pkg file extension is also used in the Solaris,[4] or SunOS operating system (OS) to denote software packages that can be installed, removed and tracked using the pkgadd, pkgrm,and pkginfo commands. Solaris is currently maintained and developed by Oracle Corporation, which acquired it through its acquisition of Sun Microsystems, which originated the OS. Solaris is a derivative of the AT&T UNIX OS, and the .pkg extension was also used on AT&T UNIX System V OS.
.pkg files are built in the xar format. The contents of a .pkg file can be installed by Apple's Installer application. The .pkg file format allows easy installation of software by end users, and is commonly used by both Apple and third-party developers.
.pkg files are also used as instruction sets to compile Symbian .sis installer files and contain data such as the vendor name, software dependencies, and application files that must be copied.
In the 90's, the .pkg file suffix was also used in BeOS. Be bought a company called StarCode and acquired their packaging tools.
During the 90's, Apple's Newton operating system also used files ending in .pkg for Newton applications and software. As a result, when seen from the Mac OS X Finder, Newton applications appear the same as Mac OS X Installer packages, however they do not share their file format.
The .pkg extension is used also by PTC/CoCreate 3D Modeling application.
See also
References
- ^ "Software Delivery Legacy Guide". Retired Documents Library. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
- ^ "Submitting to the Mac App Store". Mac Developer Library. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
- ^ ".PKG File". FilExt. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
- ^ Philip Brown. "How to make a Solaris package (pkg format)". Bolthole.com. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
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