---
name: "pkgfiled"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "pkgfile"
version: "27-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pkgfiled"
---

# pkgfiled(1)

automatically syncs pacman .files DBs to the pkgfile cache

## NAME

pkgfiled - automatically syncs pacman .files DBs to the pkgfile cache

## SYNOPSIS

Usage: *pkgfiled* \[options\] pacman\_dbpath pkgfile\_cache

## DESCRIPTION

pkgfiled is a tiny daemon which watches for changes to [**pacman**(8)](/pacman/8.md)'s .files databases and repackages these for consumption by pkgfile. This allows data to remain in sync between pacman and pkgfile.

Invoking *pkgfiled* requires two arguments -- a source directory to read pacman database files from (typically under */var/lib/pacman/sync*), and a destination directory which pkgfile will read from (typically */var/cache/pkgfile*). A systemd unit facilitates management of the daemon.

pkgfiled reads the set of enabled repositories from **pacman**'s configuration file (see **--config**) and only repackages databases for those repositories; databases for repositories which are not enabled are ignored.

Upon starting, pkgfiled will compare the contents of the pacman database with the pkgfile cache and catch up with anything out of sync. After this, it will only wake up when changes occur to the pacman database.

pkgfiled also watches the pacman configuration file. When it changes, pkgfiled re-reads the enabled repositories, removes cached databases for repositories which are no longer enabled, and syncs databases for newly enabled repositories.

## OPTIONS

- **-C**, **--config** *FILE*

  Read enabled repositories from the pacman configuration file *FILE* rather than the default of */etc/pacman.conf*.

- **-f**, **--force**

  On the initial sync, ignore timestamp comparisons and rewrite all found databases.

- **-o**, **--oneshot**

  Exit after pkgfiled's initial sync, rather than continuing to listen for changes.

- **-h**, **--help**

  Print help and exit.

- **-V**, **--version**

  Print the version and exit.

## SIGNALS

- **SIGINT**, **SIGTERM**

  When run interactively, pkgfiled will gracefully shutdown on receipt of **SIGINT**. Otherwise, **SIGTERM** is used to indicate a graceful shutdown.

- **SIGUSR1**, **SIGUSR2**

  Upon receipt of these signals, pkgfiled will rescan the pacman database directory for changes and update as needed. Unlike **SIGUSR1**, **SIGUSR2** will ignore timestamps checks and rewrite all found database.

## SEE ALSO

**pkgfile**(8)

## AUTHOR

Dave Reisner \<d@falconindy.com\<gt\>