The following lists the steps required to create a Debian .deb package for a C program.
Install essential programs:
apt-get install build-essential autoconf automake autotools-dev dh-make debhelper devscripts fakeroot xutils lintian pbuilder
I worked on my custom modification of fping source code.
Have your C source code ready in a folder. I put mine in a folder fpingj-1, containing:
l fpingj-1 total 536 -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 250 Nov 3 2001 acconfig.h -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 4396 Nov 3 2001 aclocal.m4 -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 10816 Mar 15 2001 ChangeLog -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 978 Aug 26 12:27 config.h -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 865 Nov 3 2001 config.h.in -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6474 Aug 26 12:27 config.log -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 19879 Aug 26 12:27 config.status -rwxr-xr-x 1 510 staff 101827 Nov 3 2001 configure -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 669 Nov 3 2001 configure.in -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 716 Mar 15 2001 COPYING drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 4096 Aug 26 12:27 debian -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 74182 Aug 26 12:27 fping -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 7089 Mar 15 2001 fping.8 -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 59539 Aug 26 11:36 fping.c -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 145904 Aug 26 12:27 fping.o -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 7802 Apr 26 2001 INSTALL -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 4773 Mar 15 2001 install-sh -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 4018 Mar 15 2001 linux.h -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 11078 Aug 26 12:27 Makefile -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 133 Nov 3 2001 Makefile.am -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 11134 Nov 3 2001 Makefile.in -rwxr-xr-x 1 510 staff 6283 Nov 3 2001 missing -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 730 Mar 15 2001 mkinstalldirs -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 1658 Mar 15 2001 options.h -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 2509 Apr 25 2001 README -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 10 Aug 26 12:27 stamp-h -rw-r--r-- 1 510 staff 10 Nov 3 2001 stamp-h.in
Typically the folder should contain your ‘Makefile’.
Create an archive of your folder:
tar zcf jping-1.tar.gz jping-1
cd jping-1/ dh_make -e [email protected] -f ../jping-1.tar.gz
Now edit debian/control, and edit the Maintainer:
Add your name and email address:
Maintainer: G Kappa
Now, run:
dpkg-depcheck -d ./configure
Note the following:
Packages needed:
perl
automake
mime-support
perl-modules
autoconf
And add it to debian/control:
emacs debian/control
Look for the line:
Build-Depends: debhelper (>= 8.0.0)
And change it to:
Build-Depends: debhelper (>= 8.0.0), autotools-dev, perl, automake, mime-support, perl-modules, autoconf
Now edit debian/copyright
Now create a gpg key:
gpg --gen-key --no-use-agent
Edit debian/changelog and modify the line “– ” with your name and email address, from the following block
fpingj (1-1) unstable; urgency=low * Initial release (Closes: #nnnn) <nnnn is the bug number of your ITP> -- Someone <[email protected]> Mon, 26 Aug 2013 11:51:38 +0530
I had also done:
gpg –import ~/.gnupg/JoelGMathew.gpg
The name and email should be exactly what you see from the command:
#gpg --list-keys
Now do:
dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot
Helpful links:
http://www.webupd8.org/2010/01/how-to-create-deb-package-ubuntu-debian.html
Joel G Mathew, known in tech circles by the pseudonym Droidzone, is an opensource and programming enthusiast.
He is a full stack developer, whose favorite languages are currently Python and Vue.js. He is also fluent in Javascript, Flutter/Dart, Perl, PHP, SQL, C and bash shell scripting. He loves Linux, and can often be found tinkering with linux kernel code, and source code for GNU applications. He used to be an active developer on XDA forums, and his tinkered ROMS used to be very popular in the early 2000s.
His favorite pastime is grappling with GNU compilers, discovering newer Linux secrets, writing scripts, hacking roms, and programs (nothing illegal), reading, blogging. and testing out the latest gadgets.
When away from the tech world, Dr Joel G. Mathew is a practising ENT Surgeon, busy with surgeries and clinical practise.