How can I delete a Development Package (not an Installed Package) programatically?

Question

Under Setup > Create > Packages, I have deployed "packages" with prefix 033

Under Setup > App Setup > Installed Packages, I have installed "packages" also with prefix 033

I understand that it is possible to retrieve Installed Packages using the ant sf:retrieve tool:

<types>
    <members>*</members>
    <name>InstalledPackage</name>
</types>

But I'm looking for Development Packages (like those created with sf:deploy) so I can destroy them.

Is there a way to delete these guys (eg destructiveChanges.xml) without using the UI?

Answer 1

I'm pretty familiar with the Metadata API and deletion of Package 'definitions' is not supported presently it appears. The only thing i can think is accessing the Delete action via the page URL's, which is not ideal of course since its not supported.

I did also try this in destructiveChanges.xml, it did not work sadly. I should clarify, it did not error, which gave me some hope, but in the end the unmanaged package Test remained.

<Package xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
    <fullName>Test</fullName>
    <version>28.0</version>
</Package> 

And this...

<target name="undeploypackage">
    <sf:deploy
        username="${sf.username}"
        password="${sf.password}"
        singlepackage="true"
        deployroot="${basedir}/undeploypackage"/>
</target>