---
name: "dh_germinate_metapackage"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "germinate"
version: "2.46"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dh_germinate_metapackage"
---

# dh\_germinate\_metapackage(1)

create metapackages based on seeds

## NAME

dh\_germinate\_metapackage - create metapackages based on seeds

## SYNOPSIS

**dh\_germinate\_metapackage** \[**debhelper options**\]

## DESCRIPTION

dh\_germinate\_metapackage is a debhelper program that generates ${germinate:Depends} substitutions and adds them to substvars files.

The program will read the `"metapackage-map"` file that should have been created by a previous run of `"germinate-update-metapackage"` for your package, and for each seed listed there it will generate dependencies and recommendations based on the previous results of `"germinate-update-metapackage"`. Dependencies will be substituted into your package's control file wherever you place the token "${germinate:Depends}", and similarly recommendations will be substituted wherever you place the token "${germinate:Recommends}".

You must run `"germinate-update-metapackage"` before building the source package. Normally, source packages that use this program will include an `"update"` script that will call it with appropriate arguments.

## EXAMPLES

dh\_germinate\_metapackage is usually called indirectly in a rules file via the dh command.

```
        %:
                dh $@ --with germinate
```

You must build-depend on at least debhelper (\>= 7.0.8) to use this form, and in any case you must build-depend on at least germinate (\>= 1.18) to use this program at all.

It can also be called directly at any time between `"dh_prep"` and `"dh_installdeb"`.

```
        install: build
                dh_testdir
                dh_testroot
                dh_prep
                dh_installdirs
                dh_germinate_metapackage
        binary-arch: build install
                ...
```

## SEE ALSO

[**debhelper**(7)](/debhelper/7.md), [**germinate-update-metapackage**(1)](/germinate-update-metapackage/1.md)

This program is a part of germinate.

## AUTHOR

Colin Watson \<cjwatson@ubuntu.com\>

Copyright (C) 2009 Canonical Ltd., licensed under the GNU GPL v2 or later.