Installing Binary Packages

pkgin is the binary package manager for MINIX 3. This page describes how to use it.

Software packages also can built from their source code. See Installing Source Packages for details.

First, you will need to fetch the package list and populate the package database:

# pkgin update

This step can be re-run to update the package list.

If you would like to install a package, you can run:

# pkgin install git-base
# pkgin install binutils
# pkgin install clang

More than one at a time:

# pkgin in perl python27

Also, there is a way to install everything:

# pkgin_all

{i} Be sure to have enough free space if you install all the packages. You will probably need at least 25 GB. Pkgin will estimate the space needed when it asks for your confirmation.

If you would like to search for a specific package, you can run:

# pkgin search git

As the repository is now very large, we also have a few packages sets for usual MINIX tasks. To view and install them you can use:

# pkgin_sets

To see a list of all available packages, you can run:

# pkgin available

You can also use more to pause between pages:

# pkgin available | more

If you would like to see all the available pkgin actions, you can run:

# pkgin

Additionally, you can study the man. page:

# man 1 pkgin

Many packages are available directly from the CD. This can be helpful in some circumstances, and is generally faster than downloading from the online repository.

To install packages from the CD, you can use pkgin_cd. This command uses the CD-ROM as the package repository. It is a wrapper for pkgin and therefore supports the same commands.

To begin using pkgin_cd:

1. Start your installed system
2. Insert the CD
3. Type pkgin_cd

Unlike pkgin, to install all packages you need:

# pkgin_cd in $( pkgin_cd av | awk '{ print $1 }' )

To remove the CD safely and use the online package repository:

1. Type umount /mnt to stop using the CD
2. Remove the CD
3. Type pkgin update

Note this will not update previously installed package, to replace them with the newer version you have to do this:

  # pkgin full-upgrade

That's all! Now you can try out the new packages. We are awaiting for your feedback, even if it 'just works'. We need to update our available list of applications. You can send us a mail directly, post to the MINIX google group or simply update PkgsrcStatus.

Pkgin will install the software in /usr/pkg/bin, which is already in your PATH by default.