equivs-build(1)

NAME

equivs-build - make a Debian package to register local software

SYNOPSIS

equivs-build [--full|-f] [--arch=foo|-a=foo] controlfile

DESCRIPTION

equivs-build is a program that creates Debian packages which can be used to inform dpkg about locally installed packages and their dependencies. Also empty packages that just require other packages can be
created with equivs. These can be used as "profile" packages which just mark other ones for installation.

Please note that this is a crude hack and if thoughtlessly used, it
might possibly do damage to your packaging system. And please note as
well that using it is not the recommended way of dealing with broken
dependencies. Better file a bug report instead.

The control file has a structure like the control files in "real"
Debian packages, but it doesn't have to define all keys, as default
values will be used if you omit one.

There are several additional fields that can be used:

Changelog:

File to be used as the changelog

Version:

If you don't use a local changelog, equivs will create a dummy one. As the version of the package is defined in the changelog, equivs
will assume the version 1.0. With this field, you can set an
explicit version.

Readme:

A file to be used as the README.Debian file. You can use the strings @packagename@ and @depends@ to insert the package name and the dependency information used.

Copyright:

The copyright file to by used. If omitted, the GPL 2 will be used.

Preinst: Postinst: Prerm: Postrm:

Maintainerscripts executed before/after installation/removal of the package. See the Debian developers reference for a description
(package developers-reference).

Extra-Files:

A comma-separated list of files to copy to the /usr/share/doc/packagename directory.

Files:

Files to be copied into some directory of the created package. The field syntax is a list of pairs, one per physical line of Files;
each pair is space separated, the first component is a path pointing to the file to be installed, the second the destination path in the resulting package. E.g.: "Files: foo-cron /etc/cron.d/".

File:

Files to be copied into some directory of the created package,
specified inline in the source control file. The field syntax is
the name of the files to be created, followed by lines indented by 1 space denoting file content; leading space will be trimmed.

See /usr/share/doc/equivs/README.Debian for more information.

OPTIONS

--full | -f

Do a complete build. debuild will be called, that is, a full package will be built and signed, suitable for upload to the Debian
servers.

The ID used to signed is taken from, in that order, the user from
the last entry of a supplied changelog, the Maintainer: field in
the equivs control file, or the local username.

--arch | -a

Build package for the specified architecture. Used e.g. for building packages for hurd under linux. equivs-build uses dpkg-architecture to provide this facility.

DISTRIBUTION

Distribution is subject to the GNU public licence version 2.

AUTHOR

Martin Bialasinski <martinb@debian.org>

SEE ALSO

equivs-control(1), /usr/share/doc/equivs/README.Debian

EQUIVS-BUILD(1)