how can I create a .deb from an installed package?

monkeyman2000 · 06-15-2005, 03:53 PM

Hi,

I have some packages on my debian machine, which I installed via apt-get. I would like to create .deb files for these packages to keep as archives. How can I generate a .deb file from a package installed in my system?

Thorium · 06-15-2005, 04:08 PM

I believe any stuff you have used apt to install is in /var/cache/apt/archives All the .debs should be sitting in there

Hmm...anyone know if apt does an apt-get clean by itself after a certian amount of time?

monkeyman2000 · 06-15-2005, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thorium
I believe any stuff you have used apt to install is in /var/cache/apt/archives All the .debs should be sitting in there Hmm...anyone know if apt does an apt-get clean by itself after a certian amount of time?

According to the apt-get man page:

Code:

clean 

clean clears out the local repository of retrieved package files. It
removes everything but the lock file from /var/cache/apt/archives/ and
/var/cache/apt/archives/partial/. When APT is used as a dselect(8)
method, clean is run automatically. Those who do not use dselect will
likely want to run apt-get clean from time to time to free up disk
space.

So if anyone knows... How can I generate a .deb file from a package installed in my system...assuming the .deb no longer exists in /var/cache/apt/archives/? Is this possible?

Thorium · 06-15-2005, 09:18 PM

Ah I see what you mean, if you did already did a clean. I guess it would have to be like making a deb package normally, which is a bit above me at the moment :P

http://www.debian.org/doc/maint-guide/

Markup · 06-16-2005, 03:36 AM

apt-get install dpkg-repack

dpkg-repack

Quote:

dpkg-repack creates a .deb file out of a debian package that has already been installed. If any changes have been made to the package while it was unpacked (ie, files in /etc were modified), the new package will inherit the changes.

This utility can make it easy to copy packages from one computer to another, or to recreate packages that are installed on your system, but no longer available elsewhere, or to store the current state of a package before you upgrade it.

Should be useful.

monkeyman2000 · 06-16-2005, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Markup
apt-get install dpkg-repack

Should be useful.

Yep, that's exactly what I was looking for... works like a charm. Thanks, Markup!!!