---
name: "dpkg-depcheck"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "devscripts"
version: "2.25.15+deb13u1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dpkg-depcheck"
---

# dpkg-depcheck(1)

determine packages used to execute a command

## NAME

dpkg-depcheck - determine packages used to execute a command

## SYNOPSIS

**dpkg-depcheck** \[*options*\] *command*

## DESCRIPTION

This program runs the specified command under **strace** and then determines and outputs the packages used in the process.  The list can be trimmed in various ways as described in the options below.  A good example of this program would be the command **dpkg-depcheck -b** **debian/rules build**, which would give a good first approximation to the Build-Depends line needed by a Debian package.  Note, however, that this does *not* give any direct information on versions required or architecture-specific packages.

## OPTIONS

- **-a**, **--all**

  Report all packages used to run *command*.  This is the default behaviour.  If used in conjunction with **-b**, **-d** or **-m**, gives additional information on those packages skipped by these options.

- **-b**, **--build-depends**

  Do not report any build-essential or essential packages used, or any of their (direct or indirect) dependencies.

- **-d**, **--ignore-dev-deps**

  Do not show packages used which are direct dependencies of *-dev* packages used.  This implies **-b**.

- **-m**, **--min-deps**

  Output a minimal set of packages needed, taking into account direct dependencies.  Using **-m** implies **-d** and also **-b**.

- **-C**, **--C-locale**

  Run *command* with the C locale.

- **--no-C-locale**

  Don't change locale when running *command*.

- **-l**, **--list-files**

  Also report the list of files used in each package.

- **--no-list-files**

  Do not report the files used in each package.  Cancels a **-l** option.

- **-o**, **--output=***FILE*

  Output the package diagnostics to *FILE* instead of stdout.

- **-O**, **--strace-output=***FILE*

  Write the **strace** output to *FILE* when tracing *command* instead of using a temporary file.

- **-I**, **--strace-input=***FILE*

  Get **strace** output from *FILE* instead of tracing *command*; **strace** must have be run with the **-f -q** options for this to work.

- **-f**, **--features=***LIST*

  Enable or disabled features given in the comma-separated *LIST* as follows.  A feature is enabled with *+feature* or just *feature* and disabled with *-feature*.  The currently recognised features are:

  - **warn-local**

    Warn if files in */usr/local* or */var/local* are used. Enabled by default.

  - **discard-check-version**

    Discards *execve* when only a *--version* argument is given to the program; this works around some configure scripts that check for binaries they don't actually use.  Enabled by default.

  - **trace-local**

    Also try to identify files which are accessed in */usr/local* and */var/local*.  Not usually very useful, as Debian does not place files in these directories.  Disabled by default.

  - **catch-alternatives**

    Warn about access to files controlled by the Debian *alternatives* mechanism.  Enabled by default.

  - **discard-sgml-catalogs**

    Discards access to SGML catalogs; some SGML tools read all the registered catalogs at startup.  Files matching the regexp /usr/share/sgml/.\*\\.cat are recognised  as catalogs.  Enabled by default.

- **--no-conf**, **--noconf**

  Do not read any configuration files.  This can only be used as the first option given on the command-line.

- **-h**, **--help**

  Display usage information and exit.

- **-v**, **--version**

  Display version and copyright information and exit.

## CONFIGURATION VARIABLES

The two configuration files */etc/devscripts.conf* and *~/.devscripts* are sourced in that order to set configuration variables.  Command line options can be used to override configuration file settings.  Environment variable settings are ignored for this purpose.  The currently recognised variable is:

- **DPKG\_DEPCHECK\_OPTIONS**

  These are options which are parsed before the command-line options. For example,

-

  DPKG\_DEPCHECK\_OPTIONS="-b -f-catch-alternatives"

-

  which passes these options to **dpkg-depcheck** before any command-line options are processed.  You are advised not to try tricky quoting, because of the vagaries of shell quoting!

## SEE ALSO

[**dpkg**(1)](/dpkg/1.md), [**strace**(1)](/strace/1.md), [**devscripts.conf**(5)](/devscripts.conf/5.md), [**update-alternatives**(8)](/update-alternatives/8.md)

## COPYING

Copyright 2001 Bill Allombert \<ballombe@debian.org\>. Modifications copyright 2002,2003 Julian Gilbey \<jdg@debian.org\>. **dpkg-depcheck** is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, version 2 or (at your option) any later version, and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under certain conditions.  There is absolutely no warranty for **dpkg-depcheck**.