pacdef allows the user to have consistent packages among multiple Linux machines by managing packages in group files. The group files are maintained outside of pacdef by any VCS.

pacdef importing a package group file creates a symlink to that file in pacdef's config dir, thereby letting pacdef know you want to have the packages in this file on your machine. Then installing all packages from all groups is as simple as pacdef sync. All package operations are executed by your favourite AUR helper.

If you work with multiple Arch installations and have asked yourself "Why do I have the program that I use every day on my other machine not installed here?", then pacdef is the tool for you.

Supported Backends

At the moment, supported backends are limited to

pacman (Arch Linux) and pacman-wrapping AUR helpers,
cargo (Rust package manager).

Pull requests for additional backends are welcome!

Example

This tree shows my pacdef repository (not the pacdef config dir).

.
├── generic
│   ├── audio
│   ├── base
│   ├── desktop
│   ├── private
│   ├── rust
│   ├── wayland
│   ├── wireless
│   ├── work
│   └── xorg
├── hosts
│   ├── hostname_a
│   ├── hostname_b
│   └── hostname_c
└── pacdef.conf

The base group holds all packages I need unconditionally, and includes things like zfs, paru and neovim.
In xorg and wayland I have stored the respective graphic servers and DEs.
wireless contains tools like iwd and bluez-utils for machines with wireless interfaces.
Under hosts I have one file for each machine I use. The filenames match the corresponding hostname. The packages are specific to one machine only, like device drivers, or any programs I use exclusively on that machine.

Usage on different machines:

home server: base private hostname_a
private PC: audio base desktop private rust wayland hostname_b
work PC: base desktop rust work xorg hostname_c

How to use

import one or more groups: pacdef import base desktop audio
install packages from the imported groups: pacdef sync
show packages that are not part of any group: pacdef unmanaged
create a new group: pacdef new temp (use new -e to edit the file right away)
remove packages that are not in any group: pacdef clean
show imported groups: pacdef groups
remove a previously imported group: pacdef remove audio
review all unmanaged packages interactively: pacdef review
search for the group that contains a package: pacdef search firefox
show packages of a group: pacdef show desktop

Configuration

On first execution, it will create a basic config file under $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/pacdef/pacdef.yaml. The program only needs to know your AUR helper of choice. Configure it as follows.

aur_helper: paru  # AUR helper to use (paru, yay, ...)
aur_rm_args: null  # additional args to pass to AUR helper when removing packages
warn_not_symlinks: true  # warn if a group file is not a symlink

package group files

One package per line.
Anything after a # is ignored.
Empty lines are ignored.
If a package exists in multiple repositories, the repo can be specified as prefix followed by a forward slash. The AUR helper must understand this notation.

Example:

[pacman]
alacritty
firefox  # this comment is ignored
libreoffice-fresh
mycustomrepo/zsh-theme-powerlevel10k
...

[rust]
cargo-update
topgrade