---
name: "dh_testversion"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "debhelper"
version: "7.0.15"
release: "Debian 5.0 (Lenny)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dh_testversion"
---

# dh\_testversion(1)

ensure that the correct version of debhelper is installed

## NAME

dh\_testversion - ensure that the correct version of debhelper is installed

## SYNOPSIS

**dh\_testversion** \[*debhelper options*\] \[*operator*\] \[*version*\]

## DESCRIPTION

Note: This program is deprecated. You should use build dependencies instead.

dh\_testversion compares the version of debhelper against the version you specify, and if the condition is not met, exits with an error message.

You can use this in your debian/rules files if a new debhelper feature is introduced, and your package requires that feature to build correctly. Use debhelper's changelog to figure out the version you need.

Be sure not to overuse dh\_testversion. If debhelper version 9.5 introduces a new dh\_autofixbugs command, and your package uses it, then if someone tries to build it with debhelper 1.0, the build will fail anyway when dh\_autofixbugs cannot be found, so there is no need for you to use dh\_testversion.

## OPTIONS

- *operator*

  Optional comparison operator used in comparing the versions. If not  specified, "\>=" is used. For descriptions of the comparison operators, see  dpkg --help.

- *version*

  Version number to compare against the current version of debhelper. If not specified, dh\_testversion does nothing.

## SEE ALSO

[*debhelper*(7)](/debhelper/7.md)

This program is a part of debhelper.

## AUTHOR

Joey Hess \<joeyh@debian.org\>