Package Management
Most modern operating systems do not expect users to copy and install programs manually. In ARES, software is distributed using a package management protocol called ax, or ARES Xanadu. This allows for effortless deployment of programs and data to any unit in the same region, as well as update and removal of the same. Using ARES Xanadu to manage software is explained further in Operating ARES: Managing Installed Software.
Under the hood, ARES package management is accomplished by a concerted effort of three programs: the exec shell, the pkg installer, and the ax downloader. This is considerably more complex than the situation in Companion (where xanadu-client did everything), but the complexity serves an important purpose: new releases of the operating system cannot be made unless these components are working reasonably well, so they are much less likely to go unnoticed during development.
Under the hood, ARES package management is accomplished by a concerted effort of three programs: the exec shell, the pkg installer, and the ax downloader. This is considerably more complex than the situation in Companion (where xanadu-client did everything), but the complexity serves an important purpose: new releases of the operating system cannot be made unless these components are working reasonably well, so they are much less likely to go unnoticed during development.