---
name: "Dpkg::Changelog::Entry::Debian"
section: "3perl"
platform: "linux"
package: "dpkg"
version: "1.23.11-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Dpkg::Changelog::Entry::Debian/3perl"
---

# Dpkg::Changelog::Entry::Debian(3perl)

represents a Debian changelog entry

## NAME

Dpkg::Changelog::Entry::Debian - represents a Debian changelog entry

## DESCRIPTION

This class represents a Debian changelog entry. It implements the generic interface Dpkg::Changelog::Entry. Only functions specific to this implementation are described below, the rest are inherited.

## METHODS

- @items = $entry-\>**get\_change\_items()**

  Return a list of change items. Each item contains at least one line. A change line starting with an asterisk denotes the start of a new item. Any change line like "`"[ Raphaël Hertzog ]"`" is treated like an item of its own even if it starts a set of items attributed to this person (the following line necessarily starts a new item).

- @errors = $entry-\>**parse\_header()**

  - @errors = $entry-\>**parse\_trailer()**

  Return a list of errors. Each item in the list is an error message describing the problem. If the empty list is returned, no errors have been found.

- $entry-\>**normalize()**

  Normalize the content. Strip whitespaces at end of lines, use a single empty line to separate each part.

- $src = $entry-\>**get\_source()**

  Return the name of the source package associated to the changelog entry.

- $ver = $entry-\>**get\_version()**

  Return the version associated to the changelog entry.

- @dists = $entry-\>**get\_distributions()**

  Return a list of target distributions for this version.

- $ctrl = $entry-\>**get\_optional\_fields()**

  Return a set of optional fields exposed by the changelog entry. It always returns a Dpkg::Control object (possibly empty though).

- $urgency = $entry-\>**get\_urgency()**

  Return the urgency of the associated upload.

- $maint = $entry-\>**get\_maintainer()**

  Return the string identifying the person who signed this changelog entry.

- $time = $entry-\>**get\_timestamp()**

  Return the timestamp of the changelog entry.

- $time = $entry-\>**get\_timepiece()**

  Return the timestamp of the changelog entry as a Time::Piece object.

  This function might return undef if there was no timestamp.

## UTILITY FUNCTIONS

- $bool = match\_header($line)

  Checks if the line matches a valid changelog header line.

- $bool = match\_trailer($line)

  Checks if the line matches a valid changelog trailing line.

- @closed\_bugs = find\_closes($changes)

  Takes one string as argument and finds "Closes: #123456, #654321" statements as supported by the Debian Archive software in it. Returns all closed bug numbers in an array.

## CHANGES

### Version 2.00 (dpkg 1.20.0)

Remove methods: `$entry`-\>**check\_header()**, `$entry`-\>**check\_trailer()**.

Hide variables: `$regex_header`, `$regex_trailer`.

### Version 1.03 (dpkg 1.18.8)

New methods: `$entry`-\>**get\_timepiece()**.

### Version 1.02 (dpkg 1.18.5)

New methods: `$entry`-\>**parse\_header()**, `$entry`-\>**parse\_trailer()**.

Deprecated methods: `$entry`-\>**check\_header()**, `$entry`-\>**check\_trailer()**.

### Version 1.01 (dpkg 1.17.2)

New functions: **match\_header()**, **match\_trailer()**

Deprecated variables: `$regex_header`, `$regex_trailer`

### Version 1.00 (dpkg 1.15.6)

Mark the module as public.