ReqPack

ReqPack (short for "Request-based Package Manager") is a universal, modular meta package manager that orchestrates existing language-specific package managers like pip, npm, cargo, or maven. Instead of managing packages itself, ReqPack intelligently delegates tasks, downloads missing tools, and auto-installs its own language-specific logic via Lua scripts.

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✨ Features

• 🧠 Smart Language Routing Install any package with a single command. ReqPack detects the target language and delegates the request to the proper package manager.

• 🧹 Lua-Based Modular System Each supported language is handled by a standalone Lua downloader script. This makes adding new languages or platforms simple and lightweight.

• 🌐 Decentralized, Versioned Registry All plugin locations are stored in a versioned registry, which can be synced from remote sources and merged locally.

• 🚀 Lazy Loading & Auto Bootstrapping If a required package manager (like pip or npm) is missing, ReqPack automatically downloads and installs it alongside its Lua logic.

• 🛡️ Safe Local Extensions You can register your own package managers locally without worrying about them being overwritten by remote updates.

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🍞 Example Usage

reqpack install pip flask
reqpack install npm express
reqpack install java lombok

ReqPack will detect whether Python or pip are installed, download them if missing, then proceed with the installation using its Lua plugin.

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🔧 Architecture Overview

ReqPack (C++ Core)
├── CLI → Dispatcher → Lua Engine
├── Downloader → fetches registry & Lua scripts
├── SQLite Registry: remote.sqlite + local.sqlite
└── Lua Scripts: scripts/python.lua, scripts/node.lua, ...

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📃 Registry System

Format

The registry defines available languages and where to fetch their handlers:

{
  "version": 102,
  "sources": {
    "python": "https://example.org/scripts/python.lua",
    "node": "https://example.org/scripts/node.lua",
    "java": "https://example.org/scripts/java.lua"
  }
}

Sync Mechanism

• The remote registry is stored in remote.sqlite
• Custom extensions go into local.sqlite
• Updates use patch files (patches/103.json) containing minimal diffs

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🧰 Lua Script Example

-- scripts/python.lua

function install(package)
    if not is_installed("python3") then
        run_command("sudo apt install -y python3")
    end
    if not is_installed("pip3") then
        run_command("sudo apt install -y python3-pip")
    end
    run_command("pip3 install " .. package)
end

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📊 Requirements

• C++17 or higher
• Lua (via sol2 binding)
• SQLite3
• curl (for downloads)

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📃 Build & Run

git clone https://github.com/yourname/reqpack.git
cd reqpack
mkdir build && cd build
cmake ..
make

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❤️ Contributing

Want to add support for a new package manager? Just drop a Lua script into the scripts/ folder, register it in your local.sqlite, or submit a pull request to update the central registry.

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📄 License

MIT License — free to use, modify, and distribute.