Differences between revisions 41 and 42
Revision 41 as of 2013-12-24 19:44:11
Size: 6164
Editor: ?SteveLangasek
Comment: packagingtutorial was bad practice and has been removed.
Revision 42 as of 2014-01-31 12:06:43
Size: 6268
Editor: BenArmstrong
Comment: Clarify equivs is not a shortcut to learning good packaging practices
Deletions are marked like this. Additions are marked like this.
Line 38: Line 38:
If you need to create rapidly a package, use [[DebianPkg:equivs]]: There are no shorctuts to learning good packaging practices. However, if you have no interest in that and just need to create rapidly a package, use [[DebianPkg:equivs]]:
Line 42: Line 42:
If you prefer to  gain real knowledge about Debian packaging: If you prefer to gain real knowledge about Debian packaging:
Line 46: Line 46:
Now that you have seen the basics, it is highly recomanded that you read some real stuff: Now that you have seen the basics, it is highly recommended that you read some real stuff:

Translation(s): English - Italiano - Svenska


When you seriously think about packaging as a newcomer to Debian, please read the official documentation:


Why Packaging

Whether you want

  • to install some programs or data on several computers
  • to have consistent and deterministic versioning
  • the packaging system to take care of updates
  • to help the Debian project. (see Work-Needing and Prospective Packages)

What is a "package"?

There are two kinds of packages: "binary" (.deb) and "source" (.dsc) packages. There are tools (e.g. cpack) that are able to generate "binary" packages but such packaging is ad-hoc (build-system specific) and fragile. Such packages are more likely to fail to operate when the target system diverges from the original environment they were built in.

"source" packages in turn can be built to produce "binary" packages on any other machine and architecture. In a standardized, language and underlying build-system (make vs cmake) agnostic form they provide all the necessary information about build and run-time dependencies and conflicts, a standardized description of copyright and license information, an initial configuration, etc. That is why "binary" packages alone, without the "source" packages originating them, can not be submitted for inclusion into an official Debian distribution.

Therefore Packaging in the Debian world is primarily concerned with "source" packages. "binary" packages are just a product of such work.

Introduction to Debian Packaging

There are no shorctuts to learning good packaging practices. However, if you have no interest in that and just need to create rapidly a package, use equivs:

  • read first ?how to create an empty package

  • then read how to create a ?package with some files

If you prefer to gain real knowledge about Debian packaging:

Now that you have seen the basics, it is highly recommended that you read some real stuff:

Then, if you are looking for answers, you can come back here or read:

Debian Derivatives

Please note that some Debian Derivatives resources may be quite useful too.

Learn more about the DEX project

Advanced Packaging Procedures

from Debian Women

DebianWomen organise interesting training sessions. Those are about packaging :

See also

Useful pages

other informations

See also:


CategoryPackageManagement CategoryPackaging