---
name: "Alien::Package::Deb"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "alien"
version: "8.95.8"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Alien::Package::Deb"
---

# Alien::Package::Deb(3pm)

an object that represents a deb package

## NAME

Alien::Package::Deb - an object that represents a deb package

## DESCRIPTION

This is an object class that represents a deb package. It is derived from Alien::Package.

## FIELDS

- have\_dpkg\_deb

  Set to a true value if dpkg-deb is available.

- deb\_member\_list

  Set to the list of member names in the deb package.

- dirtrans

  After the build stage, set to a hash reference of the directories we moved files from and to, so these moves can be reverted in the cleantree stage.

- fixperms

  If this is set to true, the generated debian/rules will run dh\_fixperms.

## METHODS

- init

  Sets have\_dpkg\_deb if dpkg-deb is in the path. I prefer to use dpkg-deb, if it is available since it is a lot more future-proof.

- checkfile

  Detect deb files by their extension.

- install

  Install a deb with dpkg. Pass in the filename of the deb to install.

- test

  Test a deb with lintian. Pass in the filename of the deb to test.

- get\_deb\_member\_list

  Helper method. Pass it the name of the deb and it will return the list of ar members.

- getcontrolfile

  Helper method. Pass it the name of a control file, and it will pull it out of the deb and return it.

- get\_datamember\_cmd

  Helper method. Pass it the name of the deb and it will return the raw command needed to extract the data.tar member.

- scan

  Implement the scan method to read a deb file.

- unpack

  Implement the unpack method to unpack a deb file.

- getpatch

  This method tries to find a patch file to use in the prep stage. If it finds one, it returns it. Pass in a list of directories to search for patches in.

- prep

  Adds a populated debian directory the unpacked package tree, making it ready for building. This can either be done automatically, or via a patch file.

- build

  Build a deb.

- cleantree

  Delete the entire debian/ directory.

- package

  Set/get package name.

  Always returns the package name in lowercase with all invalid characters rmoved. The name is however, stored unchanged.

- version

  Set/get package version.

  When the version is set, it will be stripped of any epoch. If there is a release, the release will be stripped away and used to set the release field as a side effect. Otherwise, the release will be set to 1.

  More sanitization of the version is done when the field is retrieved, to make sure it is a valid debian version field.

- release

  Set/get package release.

  Always returns a sanitized release version. The release is however, stored unchanged.

- description

  Set/get description

  Although the description is stored internally unchanged, this will always return a sanitized form of it that is compliant with Debian standards.

- date

  Returns the date, in rfc822 format.

- email

  Returns an email address for the current user.

- username

  Returns the user name of the real uid.

- savescript

  Saves script to debian directory.

- gen\_postinst

  Modifies or creates a postinst. This may include generated shell code to set owners and groups from the owninfo field, and update modes from the modeinfo field.

## AUTHOR

Joey Hess \<joey@kitenet.net\>