Optimization for multi-project package manager

A computing device, having a memory to store a series of instructions that are executed by at least one processor to implement a project build tool, the computing device configured to

• provide to a package manager a configuration file describing a superset of packages of reusable program code that are dependencies of a set of projects;
• install in a common folder the superset of packages in conformance with a package manager having a package resolution model that implements a hierarchical structure optimized for parental search;
• create a temporary package in the common folder to represent a project in the common package;
• and
• generate in a project folder for the project a set of symbolic links to a subset of dependency packages for the project contained in the common folder.

A machine-implemented method, comprising:

• providing to a package manager a configuration file describing a superset of packages of reusable program code that are dependencies of a set of projects;
• installing in a common folder the superset of packages in conformance with a package manager having a package resolution model that implements a hierarchical structure optimized for parental search;
• create a temporary package in the common folder to represent a project in the common package;
• generating in a project folder for the project a set of symbolic links to a subset of dependency packages for the project contained in the common folder;
• and
• executing breadth-first search to find a dependency package having the shortest file path.