Import an existing machine

Import can record your existing package choices without reinstalling them. It does not authenticate the binaries already installed. See manifests for how declarations affect later convergence.

Preview declarations

Start with a preview:

pacvamp import
pacvamp import --json

Import considers explicitly installed packages only, so dependencies stay dependencies. It matches names against current repository databases and queries AUR metadata for foreign packages. Use --offline to skip the AUR lookup. Unknown foreign packages remain unresolved and are not added.

The preview shows missing recorded provenance and marks packages unreviewed. A repository or AUR name match identifies a possible source for future operations; it does not authenticate the binary already installed.

Save the declarations

Save the additions when the preview matches your intent:

pacvamp import --write
pacvamp plan

Saving changes only your user manifest. Existing declarations in any layer, including absent entries, holds, and source choices, are preserved. Comments and settings in the user manifest are retained. Import does not install anything, change install reasons, create a lockfile approval, or write provenance. Review AUR recipes with pacvamp aur review <name> before approving a commit.

Continue with AUR review for foreign packages or configuration to inspect the policy applied to future operations.