-// $Id: pkgcache.h,v 1.24 2001/05/07 04:24:08 jgg Exp $
-/* ######################################################################
-
- Cache - Structure definitions for the cache file
-
- Please see doc/apt-pkg/cache.sgml for a more detailed description of
- this format. Also be sure to keep that file up-to-date!!
-
+/**\file pkgcache.h
+ \brief pkgCache - Structure definitions for the cache file
+
+ The goal of the cache file is two fold:
+ Firstly to speed loading and processing of the package file array and
+ secondly to reduce memory consumption of the package file array.
+
+ The implementation is aimed at an environment with many primary package
+ files, for instance someone that has a Package file for their CD-ROM, a
+ Package file for the latest version of the distribution on the CD-ROM and a
+ package file for the development version. Always present is the information
+ contained in the status file which might be considered a separate package
+ file.
+
+ Please understand, this is designed as a <b>Cache file</b> it is not meant to be
+ used on any system other than the one it was created for. It is not meant to
+ be authoritative either, i.e. if a system crash or software failure occurs it
+ must be perfectly acceptable for the cache file to be in an inconsistent
+ state. Furthermore at any time the cache file may be erased without losing
+ any information.
+
+ Also the structures and storage layout is optimized for use by the APT
+ and may not be suitable for all purposes. However it should be possible
+ to extend it with associate cache files that contain other information.
+
+ To keep memory use down the cache file only contains often used fields and
+ fields that are inexpensive to store, the Package file has a full list of
+ fields. Also the client may assume that all items are perfectly valid and
+ need not perform checks against their correctness. Removal of information
+ from the cache is possible, but blanks will be left in the file, and
+ unused strings will also be present. The recommended implementation is to
+ simply rebuild the cache each time any of the data files change. It is
+ possible to add a new package file to the cache without any negative side
+ effects.
+
+ <b>Note on Pointer access</b>