What are *-devel packages?

The *-devel package is a software package in Linux that primarily includes development tools and source code files for a specific software or library. This package typically provides developers with essential header files (.h), libraries (.a or .so), and possibly other tools, allowing them to build or compile new programs or features.

Consider a concrete example: suppose there is a library named libexample that provides general-purpose functionalities usable by multiple other programs. In the Linux system, this library may be split into two packages:

1. libexample: Contains compiled binary files, specifically dynamic libraries (.so files), which are used by system programs at runtime.

2. libexample-devel: Contains development-related files, such as header files (.h), which are necessary for compilation, so they are only needed during development.

If a developer wishes to create a program that uses the functionalities of libexample, they must install the libexample-devel package to obtain the necessary header files and libraries, enabling them to correctly link and build their program during compilation.

In summary, the *-devel package is designed to meet developers' needs, while ordinary users typically only need to install the binary library package to utilize the library's functionalities at runtime.