Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Rebuilding and Modifying Debian Packages

Collapse
X
Collapse
  •  

  • Rebuilding and Modifying Debian Packages







    by George Whittaker


    Introduction

    The Debian packaging system is an integral part of managing software on Debian and its derivatives like Ubuntu. It facilitates the installation, upgrade, and removal of software packages. Sometimes, however, the available binary packages may not meet all the specific requirements of a user or organization, be it due to the need for a patched version, additional features, or customization for performance optimizations. This article delves deep into the process of rebuilding and modifying existing Debian packages, offering a guide for those who need to tailor software packages to their precise requirements.


    Understanding Debian Packages

    Debian packages, with the .deb file extension, are archives that contain compiled binaries, configuration files, and installation scripts. Understanding the internal structure of these packages is critical. A typical .deb package includes:
    • DEBIAN directory: Holds control files that manage how the package is installed, upgraded, or removed.
    • data archive: Contains the actual files of the package.
    Common Files in a Debian Package
    • control: Details package dependencies and metadata like version, maintainer, and description.
    • changelog: Records all the changes made to the package.
    • rules: Specifies how the package is to be built from its source.
    Debian Packaging Tools
    • dpkg: The base tool that handles package installation and removal.
    • APT (Advanced Package Tool): Works at a higher level to handle the retrieval and installation of packages from remote repositories.
    • dpkg-dev: A collection of tools necessary to build Debian packages.
    Why Modify a Debian Package?

    Customizing software can optimize operational efficiency, enhance security, and add or modify features to suit better the unique environment in which they operate. Typical reasons for modifying packages include:
    • Customization: Adjusting software to fit specific local policies or performance requirements.
    • Security patches: Quickly applying security patches that are not yet part of official releases.
    • Functional updates: Adding features not available in the standard package.
    Preparing the Environment

    Installing Necessary Tools

    Before beginning, ensure your system has the tools required for Debian package development installed:


    sudo apt-get install dpkg-dev devscripts build-essential fakeroot



    Go to Full Article










    More...
    Tags: None
      Posting comments is disabled.

    Categories

    Collapse

    Article Tags

    Collapse

    There are no tags yet.

    Latest Articles

    Collapse
    • What is Shebang: Bash Script Header on First Line?
      by Kasimba
      As Linux enthusiasts, we all come across bash scripting as an essential part of the Linux system. However, many Linux users don’t know why the first line of the bash script contains #!. So this combination of # and ! is called shebang or shebang.
      Although shebang looks like a bash script header, it initially instructs the system about interpreters to execute the script. This concept feels a bit complicated, but that’s not true, as this guide is all about the shebang: bash script header....
      Yesterday, 07:59 PM
    • Bash Script Loops Examples
      by Kasimba
      A loop in programming is a control structure that allows a specific code to be executed repeatedly until a condition is met. This process is repeated until no further action is required. Loop allows you to repeat the desired set of instructions numerous times to attain the desired outcome. These recursions can be useful for all tasks that require repetitive operations or when working with data collections.
      In this article, we will explore the meaning, types, and examples of loops, further...
      Yesterday, 07:59 PM
    • How to Install NVIDIA GPU Driver on Fedora 40+ KDE 6 Spin on Wayland
      by Kasimba
      Installing the NVIDIA GPU driver is the first thing you will want to do after installing Fedora 40 on your computer. Fedora 40 comes with different spins (desktop environments) and the latest software. Wayland display server (which will replace the X11/Xorg display server completely one day) is the default on some of the Fedora 40 spins. One of the most awaited Fedora 40 spin is the KDE spin. Fedora 40 KDE spin comes with the KDE Plasma 6 desktop environment which supports only the Wayland display...
      Yesterday, 07:59 PM
    • How to SSH Into Docker Container
      by Kasimba
      Administrators commonly use SSH to access and operate remote servers and devices, including a Docker container. When you connect to any device using SSH, you can run commands, access its files, and perform multiple other tasks. You can also use the Docker container as a hypervisor image that can run applications. For example, a software developer can create a Docker container image to package the software.

      Hence, a Docker container image package software with all the dependencies and...
      Yesterday, 01:12 PM
    • How to SSH Into EC2 Instance
      by Kasimba
      EC2 is a service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that lets you rent virtual servers (known as instances). In these instances, you can leverage virtual machines to develop, test, deploy, and manage computer applications.

      SSH is an incredible utility for accessing and managing Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) instances. With SSH, you can operate a remote device, access data, execute commands, troubleshoot issues, and more. Although you can easily SSH into an EC2 instance, many...
      Yesterday, 01:12 PM
    • How to Tunnel Web Traffic Through SSH for Secure Browsing
      by Kasimba
      Nowadays, an uncountable number of cyber attacks, scams, and data theft occur every single day. This makes it necessary for users to look for ways to secure their data. After all, it is better to take precautions than to experience a guilt trip. Fortunately, SSH offers tunneling, which channels internet traffic to your local system via a remote system.

      Meanwhile, this transmission encrypts incoming and outgoing network traffic on your local Linux device, ensuring the system’s security....
      Yesterday, 05:01 AM
    View All
    Working...
    X