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

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

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 Package 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.

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

--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 is subject to the GNU public licence version 2.

Martin Bialasinski <martinb@debian.org>

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