Package management

At ActiveState, package management includes not only dependency management but also language and environment management. Use the Platform and State Tool to take all the tedious, manual work out of installing, configuring, updating, and otherwise managing your runtime.

You can use the ActiveState Platform UI and the State Tool to:

Package management with the Platform

Using the Platform UI you can install, uninstall, and edit specific packages from your project.

To install and delete packages from your runtime:

  1. Go to your Projects tab.
  2. Select the project with the packages you wish to configure.
  3. In the Configuration tab of the project:
  • To add a package, click the Add Package button and search for the needed package before clicking Close to save.
  • To delete an installed package click the trash bin icon next to the package name.
  • To find a different version of the package use the drop-down menu next to the package name to select the appropriate package and wait for the dependencies to be resolved.
  • To change the language version, or configure the operating system go to your project’s Configuration tab and click the Change Version or Change buttons, respectively.
  1. After your newly configured runtime has been built, you can update your project by running the state pull command in the State Tool.

You can also import packages via uploading them from a requirements file. Details on installing packages from requirements files can be found here.

As you manage the packages in your runtime, the addition of new packages or changing the version of existing packages may present new security issues. These changes will be captured in the updated security report. To find out how to view these changes, see the documentation explaining our security reports here.

Package management using the State Tool

Managing your packages can be done using only the State Tool. Additional help with the State Tool can be found on the State Tool Cheat Sheet, reviewing the State Tool Command Reference, or by entering state learn into the command line.

Search for a package

state search <name of package>

This will search our Platform catalog for packages that match the search term (text within the angle brackets). The search is case insensitive.

Install a package

state install <package>

While the search function is case insensitive, the install function is not, so be sure to enter in the name of your package exactly as it appears in the search response. Installing a new package may require some dependencies to be rebuilt.

Remove a package

state uninstall <package>

Removing a package may require some dependencies to be restored and/or rebuilt. After removal, the package will no longer be present in your local project, and running state push will sync your settings with the Platform.