Basic Debian Packaging

overview

this class should give a basic understanding of how to build a debian package from some common types of source tarballs or repositories, with the assistance of several helper utilities.

background

prerequisites

• basic familiarity with commandline
• basic familiarity with linux

suggested background

• Command Line 2
• rudimentary understanding of building and compiling software
• basic understanding of apt and dpkg
• basic understanding of cvs or subversion

topics covered

finding software

• is it already packaged:
  • packages.debian.org
• other sources of software:
  • freshmeat.net
  • sourceforge.net
  • google.com

environment variables

• DEBEMAIL

export DEBEMAIL=yourname@example.com

• DEBFULLNAME

export DEBFULLNAME="Your Name Here"

• EDITOR

export EDITOR=nano

creating debian directory

• using dh_make (package dh-make)
• dh-make-perl

contents of a debian directory

• copyright
• changelog
  • dch
  • version
  • release
• control
• rules
• other files
  • *.installi
  • *.manpages
  • *.examples
  • *.init
  • *.postinst
• other examples: *.ex and *.EX files

cdbs basics:

• magic snippet for a complete debian/rules file:

#!/usr/bin/make -f
# uncomment the next line if using a makefile-based source
#include /usr/share/cdbs/1/class/makefile.mk
include /usr/share/cdbs/1/rules/debhelper.mk

• add cdbs to build-depends or build-depends-indep debian/control

debuild

• commandline arguments: -uc -us

basic troubleshooting

• build dependencies
• package dependencies
  • install in a clean debian base-install
  • pbuilder/sbuild

lintian

• debian policy checker

additional and related topics

• Debian Package Repositories
• gnupg-signed packages
• https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HowToBuildDebianPackagesFromScratch
• http://women.alioth.debian.org/wiki/index.php/English/BuildingWithoutHelper
• Debian New Maintainers' Guide
• Debian Policy
• Developer's Reference