7

I have a piece of software that comes as a deb package or as source. I would like to install it from source so I can install it in a non-standard directory, but would like to use apt for dependency management.

Is there software that I can use that will create a deb package from another that is just a dummy package with the dependencies for the package?

EDIT: To clarify, I want to satisfy the dependencies of the software, not use the software to satisfy dependencies.

Zell Faze
  • 171
  • Probably https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/30303/how-to-create-a-deb-file-manually might be helpful. – phk Oct 22 '16 at 07:48

1 Answers1

9

You can use equivs for that. Install the equivs package, and run

equivs-control yourpackage.control

(replacing yourpackage with something appropriate for your situation).

This will create a template yourpackage.control file; edit it as appropriate:

  • to enforce dependencies, list them in the Depends: line;
  • to satisfy dependencies, list them in the Provides: line (adding it if necessary).

If you want to satisfy a single dependency, name your package accordingly, don’t Provide it.

You should also fill in the Version: line. Then run

equivs-build yourpackage.control

and install the resulting .deb package (which will enforce the dependencies).

Stephen Kitt
  • 434,908