We see Most of the Windows softwares are packaged in a single executable file. When I double-click Setup file, it sets up all the files, binaries and libraries with it.
I understand the dependency of Ubuntu or more generally linux packages. But I wonder, Why these exists. Isn't it possible to build a single file with all dependencies? What is the problems with this method?
Please try to give the reason in details.
Best Answer
The main reason that dependencies are not included with the program itself is so that components of the system can be easily updated.
Imagine one dependency is used by five different programs. If a security vulnerability is found in that dependency, only one copy has to be updated, rather than five copies.
To the user, it doesn't matter that multiple packages need to be installed - installing the one piece of software you want automatically installs its dependencies.
The main difference between .deb and .exe packaging is not that Ubuntu software is not published in a single file. The main difference is the whole concept of a software repository that contains packages, and that updates can be easily be provided from.
This can sometimes be problematic for computers without a direct internet connection. There are tools, like APTonCD, that help minimise these difficulties.