Software package management and Debian
New World hosts always run a supported version of Debian and always with as few changes and tweaks as necessary to achieve the required functionality.
This implies that the set of software packages installed on any New World host is a selection from the standard, supported pool of packages maintained by Debian themselves. This would be correct.
Because there are two groups of people in CSE who take an interest in exactly which packages are installed on a host -- namely CSG and teaching staff -- separate lists of packages are maintained by the two groups. The configuration manager (cfengine) ensures that each host has the appropriate list(s) of packages to be installed on it. A separate action ensures that new packages are installed as the lists change.
Initial installation of a New World host
How the correct package lists are distributed to hosts
- CSG-managed lists,
- Teaching staff-managed lists