What is a .HPKG file?
An HPKG file is a special kind of computer file used by an operating system called Haiku. Haiku is a free program that runs your computer, similar to Windows or macOS, but it's made by a group of people who share it for anyone to use without charging money. The HPKG file is like a box that contains everything an application (a program you use on your computer, like a game or a word processor) needs to work properly. This includes the main program, any extra parts it needs to function (called libraries), additional features (add-ons), and any files it uses to store information or settings.
To get these applications onto a Haiku computer, you can use something called HaikuDepot. HaikuDepot is a part of Haiku that lets you find, download, and install these HPKG files easily, kind of like an app store on a smartphone. If you're more comfortable with using command lines (typing commands into a computer instead of clicking on icons), you can also use a tool called pkgman in the Terminal. The Terminal is a program that lets you control your computer by typing commands into it.
If you ever need to install an HPKG file by yourself without using HaikuDepot or pkgman, you can do so by moving the HPKG file into a specific folder on your computer, which is /system/packages/. Once an application is installed, you can find and use it in the /system/apps/ folder.
Haiku, the operating system that uses HPKG files, is actually inspired by an older system called BeOS, which was made in the 1990s. Haiku aims to be a modern version of BeOS. The first official version of Haiku was released in September 2018. Before Haiku used HPKG files, BeOS used different types of files (.ZIP and .PKG) to store applications. HPKG files are now the standard way to package applications for Haiku.
Verification
Our goal is to help people find the most up-to-date information about file extensions for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. We researched over 10,000 file extensions and their respective programs that open those files. If you want to suggest edits or updates about .HPKG file formats, example files, or programs that are compatible. Please contact us.