Package Manager Comparison

2020-03-23T23:37:38Z

Stephenmgi: Updated GPM features to current functionality

This is the comparison of package management solutions in the LabVIEW community.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Characteristic !! [[VI Package Manager]] (Community Non-Commercial, Free Commercial, Pro $599) !! [[NI Package Manager]] !! [[G Package Manager]] ([[GPM]])
|-
| Installs With LabVIEW || Yes || Yes || No
|-
| Created By|| JKI || National Instruments || MGI (Moore Good Ideas)
|-
| Year Released || 2006 || 2017 || 2018
|-
| Open Source || No || No || Yes
|-
| Language Written In || G || C# || G
|-
| Free To Install || Yes (Community & Free) || Yes || Yes
|-
| API || Yes (Community & Pro) || Yes || Yes
|-
| Local repository management1 || Yes (Pro) || Yes || Yes
|-
| Supports multiple LabVIEW versions from a single package || Yes || No || Yes
|-
| Natively supports mass compile after install || Yes || No || Yes
|-
| Scope of package installation2 || LabVIEW IDE or OS File System || OS File System || Per Project5
|-
| Supports LabVIEW NXG || No || Yes || No
|-
| Integrates Into LabVIEW IDE8 || No || No || No
|-
| Integrates Into LabVIEW NXG IDE9 || No || Yes || No
|-
| Create palettes as a part of the package creation || Yes || No || No
|-
| Supports Installation to symbolic paths (user.lib) || Yes || No || N/A6
|-
| Support Structure || [https://forums.jki.net/forum/5-vi-package-manager-vipm/ Free & Community] or Paid Direct || [https://forums.ni.com/t5/NI-Package-Manager-NIPM/bd-p/1023 NI Forums] || [https://gitlab.com/mgi/gpm/gpm/wikis/home GitLab Issue Tracking and Wiki]10
|-
| Supports Pre Build Step || Yes, G Code (Community & Pro) || Yes - via Source Distribution, G Code || No
|-
| Supports Post Build Step || Yes, G Code (Community & Pro) || Yes - via Source Distribution, G Code || No
|-
| Supports Pre Install Step || Yes, G Code (Community & Pro) || Yes - via exe/bat (Advanced: must [https://forums.ni.com/t5/NI-Package-Management/Manually-Pack-and-Unpack-Packages/ta-p/3956905 pack the package]) || No
|-
| Supports Post Install Step || Yes, G Code (Community & Pro) || Yes - via exe/bat (Configurable from LabVIEW IDE)|| No
|-
| Supports Pre Uninstall Step || Yes, G Code (Community & Pro) || Yes - via exe/bat (Configurable from LabVIEW IDE)|| No
|-
| Supports Post Uninstall Step || Yes, G Code (Community & Pro) || Yes - via exe/bat (Advanced: must [https://forums.ni.com/t5/NI-Package-Management/Manually-Pack-and-Unpack-Packages/ta-p/3956905 pack the package]) || No
|-
| Supports N post install/pre uninstall steps || No || Yes || No
|-
| Supports N Post Install All steps|| No || Yes || No
|-
| Supports Automatic Dependency Scanning4 || Yes (Community & Pro) || No || Yes
|-
| Has a dedicated package manager application || Yes || Yes || Yes
|-
| Packages Searchable via Web Page || Yes || No || Yes
|-
| Has a community repository of packages || Yes || No || Yes
|-
| Can list packages created by other package managers as dependencies7 || No || No || No
|-
| Supports 64 bit without manual intervention?3 || Yes || Yes || No
|-
| Supports offline\copies of repositories11 || Yes (Pro) || || Yes
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Detail Number !! Additional Information
|-
| 1 || Repository types: A global repository is accessible to anyone. A local repository is created by an individual (company, etc.) and hosted on a local server.
|-
| 2 || Scope of Package Installation: determines if multiple versions of a package are allowed or if you may have only one version of a package.
|-
| 3 || GPM can place files anywhere. However, as of 0.2.0-35, GPackages installed for LabVIEW 64 bit will open, but cant find linked VIs. The GPackage(s) directories must be mass compiled to allow LabVIEW to relink the VIs to eachother.
|-
| 4 || Example
|-
| 5 || LabVIEW IDE Coming Soon
|-
| 6 || Coming Soon
|-
| 7 || Only packages of the same type can be listed as dependencies. For example, a VI Package can only depend on other VI Packages. A VI Package cannot depend on a NI Package.
|-
| 8 || There is no user experience to find, install, upgrade, remove, or autodetect packages from within the LabVIEW IDE.
|-
| 9 || NI Package manager is integrated into the NXG IDE so that the user may find the package responsible for installing missing gvis without leaving the IDE.
|-
| 10 || GPM is open source. The community can contribute to fix issues, add features and make support better.
|-
| 11 || For some organizations, a connection to the internet is not allowed. This feature allows you to internet-based repositories and host them locally for your organization.
|}
==External links==
* [https://vipm.jki.net VI Package Manager]
* [https://www.ni.com/en-us/support/downloads/ni-package-manager.html NI Package Manager]
* [https://gpackage.io G Package Manager]

LabVIEW Wiki - User contributions [en]

Package Manager Comparison