What is a .PACNEW file?
A .PACNEW file is a type of file associated with the Arch Linux operating system, specifically used when managing software packages through its package manager called pacman. When you use pacman to update software on Arch Linux, sometimes the updated software comes with changes in its configuration files. Instead of automatically replacing the existing configuration files on your system, which you might have customized, pacman creates a new file with the extension .PACNEW. This file contains the updated default configuration settings.
The purpose of the .PACNEW file is to alert you that there have been changes in the default settings that might need to be integrated with your customized settings. It's a way to prevent your custom configurations from being overwritten automatically during an update, giving you the chance to manually merge the changes.
To handle .PACNEW files, you can use a tool called pacdiff. This utility helps you compare the differences between your current configuration file and the new .PACNEW file. It allows you to decide whether to integrate the new changes, keep your existing settings, or combine both. Other utilities related to .PACNEW files can also assist in managing these files, ensuring that your system's configuration is up-to-date and customized to your preferences.
In summary, .PACNEW files are created by the Arch Linux pacman package manager during software updates to ensure that user customizations are not lost. These files need to be manually reviewed and merged if necessary, using tools like pacdiff.
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 .PACNEW file formats, example files, or programs that are compatible. Please contact us.