How to build a simple Debian package (*.Deb)

Take a look at how to build a Debian package from a simple program or script, Debian packages (*.Deb) are easy to share, install and uninstall, they can also automatically add your programs to Ubuntu's GNOME menu.

You'll probably need to install these:

To install dh-make
sudo apt-get install dh-make

To install dpkg
sudo apt-get install dpkg

To install lintian
sudo apt-get install lintian

And here's some extra info that I found helpful:

Wiki info on chmod:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chmod

Debian policy:
http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/

For more info and links to the files used in this tutorial, please see our forum post -

http://forum.sonodrome.co.uk/t148-roll-your-own-debian-package#695

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Debian
• package
• Linux
• tutorial
• deb

[jhatch28]

ugggh, won't let me post a link, debian.org/doc/packaging-manua­ls/packaging-tutorial/packagin­g-tutorial.pdf

[sonodrome]

@jhatch28 Yeah, I hate that about Youtube, I don't know why they won't just let people post links, crazy!

Your sudo link won't cut and paste but it's easy enough to find the document if you just Google for it, thanks for posting.

[jhatch28]

Yeah, I've been learning this for 8 hours a day this whole week, and I finally am getting some breakthroughs thanks to your video for giving me a huge boost. I've branched off of this and now I found my own resources from the debian community also. In case you're more interested here's the link, but this basically is helping me to not need any more help from you! Thanks for getting me over the hardest part!

[sonodrome]

@jhatch28 Good to here, glad I could help out, and good luck with the package :)

[jhatch28]

So, I am trying to learn how to customize the debian/rules file. I was wondering if you knew anything more about the makefile that you could make another video? I'd appreciate it a lot! Great vid!

[sonodrome]

@jhatch28 There's a few different methods for generating a rules file, I just looked at the most basic way to do it, there's loads of ways to customise an installation, and it can get complicated real quickly- This is probably why there's so many Linux programs that are not packaged or are waiting to be packaged in the Deb format, I personally think the process is a bit difficult to get started with, and the learning the process is a big time investment, which puts many people off learning it.

[sonodrome]

@jhatch28 Thanks very much :)

There's info in this video on making a rules file (starts at 24 mins, sorry the video is epically long). I don't know much about editing the rules/makefile, as this was my first shot at building a Debian package. I'll probably not B doing another video on this at the moment, unless there's something specific I can help u with.

When I was building the package I came across a few difficulties, I found the community at the Debian Mentors Mailing List very helpful.

[sonodrome]

@silversvartnad Thank you dude, I always appreciate feedback. ^_^

[silversvartnad]

Really good one! The tempo might be a bit slow for hardcore programmers, but hey thats not me.

Thumbs up!

[sonodrome]

@BadgerUKvideo Thanks, glad to have been of help :)