A technique for managing package dependencies for an application installation. A set of used files for the application and a package for a respective file in the set of used files are identified, and names of the identified packages are added to an original package list of package names for the application, wherein the original package list defines package dependencies. Responsive to a determination that the identified packages can be located, that the files within the identified packages can be found, and that the files within the identified packages were used, the original list of package names for the application is updated to form an updated list of managed package dependencies. A difference list between the updated list and the original list of package names is created, and the application is selectively installed using a combination of the original list of package names and the difference list.