diff --git a/appmgr/src/config/mod.rs b/appmgr/src/config/mod.rs
index 8a8b829ba..c4c4462ea 100644
--- a/appmgr/src/config/mod.rs
+++ b/appmgr/src/config/mod.rs
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ pub fn configure<'a, Db: DbHandle>(
             .0
             .iter()
             .filter_map(|(id, info)| {
-                if info.optional.is_none() {
+                if info.requirement.required() {
                     Some((id.clone(), CurrentDependencyInfo::default()))
                 } else {
                     None
diff --git a/appmgr/src/dependencies.rs b/appmgr/src/dependencies.rs
index f8a080506..d762b5f81 100644
--- a/appmgr/src/dependencies.rs
+++ b/appmgr/src/dependencies.rs
@@ -116,12 +116,25 @@ impl HasModel for Dependencies {
     type Model = MapModel<Self>;
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "kebab-case")]
+#[serde(tag = "type")]
+pub enum DependencyRequirement {
+    OptIn { how: String },
+    OptOut { how: String },
+    Required,
+}
+impl DependencyRequirement {
+    pub fn required(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, &DependencyRequirement::Required)
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, HasModel)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "kebab-case")]
 pub struct DepInfo {
     pub version: VersionRange,
-    pub optional: Option<String>,
-    pub recommended: bool,
+    pub requirement: DependencyRequirement,
     pub description: Option<String>,
     pub critical: bool,
     #[serde(default)]
diff --git a/appmgr/src/install/mod.rs b/appmgr/src/install/mod.rs
index 84e88615f..935eab1ce 100644
--- a/appmgr/src/install/mod.rs
+++ b/appmgr/src/install/mod.rs
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ pub async fn install_s9pk<R: AsyncRead + AsyncSeek + Unpin>(
         .0
         .iter()
         .filter_map(|(id, info)| {
-            if info.optional.is_none() {
+            if info.requirement.required() {
                 Some((id.clone(), CurrentDependencyInfo::default()))
             } else {
                 None