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

# dpkg-genbuildinfo(1)

generate Debian .buildinfo files

## NAME

dpkg-genbuildinfo - generate Debian .buildinfo files

## SYNOPSIS

**dpkg-genbuildinfo** \[*option*...\]

## DESCRIPTION

**dpkg-genbuildinfo** reads information from an unpacked and built Debian source tree and from the files it has generated and generates a Debian control file describing the build environment and the build artifacts (**.buildinfo** file).

This program was introduced in dpkg 1.18.11.

## OPTIONS

- **--build=***type*

  Specifies the build *type* from a comma-separated list of components.

  The allowed values are:

  - **any**

    Generate build information including unqualified build dependencies (**Build-Depends**) and architecture specific build dependencies (**Build-Depends-Arch**).

  - **all**

    Generate build information including unqualified build dependencies (**Build-Depends**) and architecture independent build dependencies (**Build-Depends-Indep**).

  - **source**

    Effectively ignored; generate build information with just the unqualified build dependencies (**Build-Depends**).

  - **binary**

    Generate build information with all three types of build dependencies. This is an alias for **any,all**.

  - **full**

    Generate build information with all three types of build dependencies. This is an alias for **any,all,source**, and the same as the default case when no build option is specified.

- **-c***controlfile*

  Specifies the main source control file to read information from. The default is **debian/control**.

- **-l***changelog-file*

  Specifies the changelog file to read information from. The default is **debian/changelog**.

- **-f***files-list-file*

  Specifies where is the list of files that have been produced by the build, rather than using **debian/files**.

- **-F***changelog-format*

  Specifies the format of the changelog. See [**dpkg-parsechangelog**(1)](/dpkg-parsechangelog/1.md) for information about alternative formats.

- **-O**\[*filename*\]

  Print the buildinfo file to standard output (or *filename* if specified) rather than to *dir***/***source-name***\_***binary-version***\_***arch***.buildinfo** (where *dir* is **..** by default or *upload-files-dir* if **-u** was used).

- **-u***upload-files-dir*

  Look for the files to be uploaded in *upload-files-dir* rather than **..** (**dpkg-genbuildinfo** needs to find these files so that it can include their sizes and checksums in the **.buildinfo** file).

- **--always-include-kernel**

  By default, the **Build-Kernel-Version** field will not be written out.

  Specify this option to always write a **Build-Kernel-Version** field when generating the **.buildinfo**.

  Supported since dpkg 1.19.0.

- **--always-include-path**

  By default, the **Build-Path** field will only be written if the current directory starts with an allowed pattern.

  On Debian and derivatives the pattern matches on **/build/** at the start of the pathname.

  Specify this option to always write a **Build-Path** field when generating the **.buildinfo**.

- **--admindir=***dir*

  Change the location of the **dpkg** database. The default location is */var/lib/dpkg*.

- **-q**

  **dpkg-genbuildinfo** might produce informative messages on standard error. **-q** suppresses these messages.

- **-?**, **--help**

  Show the usage message and exit.

- **--version**

  Show the version and exit.

## ENVIRONMENT

- **DEB\_BUILD\_OPTIONS**

  This variable can be used to enable or disable various features that affect the information included in the .buildinfo file, via the **buildinfo** option. This option contains a comma-separated list of features, prefixed with the ‘**+**’ or ‘**-**’ modifiers, to denote whether to enable or disable them. The special feature “**all**” can be used to enable or disable all other features. The feature “**path**” controls whether to unconditionally include the **Build-Path** field.

  Supported since dpkg 1.18.19.

- **DEB\_BUILD\_PROFILES**

  If set, it will be used as the active build profile(s) to use when generating the .buildinfo file. It is a space separated list of profile names, without any exclamation marks.

- **DEB\_BUILD\_ARCH**

  Sets the build architecture. This affects the value for the **Build-Architecture** field, and the check for the cross-compilation mode.

- **DEB\_HOST\_ARCH**

  Sets the host architecture. This affects the filename used for the .buildinfo file, and the check for the cross-compilation mode.

- **DPKG\_COLORS**

  Sets the color mode. The currently accepted values are: **auto** (default), **always** and **never**.

  Supported since dpkg 1.18.5.

- **DPKG\_NLS**

  If set, it will be used to decide whether to activate Native Language Support, also known as internationalization (or i18n) support. The accepted values are: **0** and **1** (default).

  Supported since dpkg 1.19.0.

## FILES

- **debian/files**

  The list of generated files. **dpkg-genbuildinfo** reads the data here when producing a **.buildinfo** file.

## SEE ALSO

[**deb-buildinfo**(5)](/deb-buildinfo/5.md).