---
name: "dpkg-ruby"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "ruby-debian"
version: "0.3.10+b13"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dpkg-ruby"
---

# dpkg-ruby(1)

Utility to read a dpkg style db file, dpkg-awk clone

## NAME

dpkg-ruby - Utility to read a dpkg style db file, dpkg-awk clone

## SYNOPSIS

**dpkg-ruby** \[**(-f\|--file)** *filename***\] \[(-d\|--debug)** *##***\] \[(-s\|--sort)** *list***\] \[(-n\|--numeric)** *list***\] \[(-rs\|--rec\_sep)** *??***\] '***\<fieldname\>:\<regex\>***' ... --** *\<out\_fieldname\>* **..**\

## DESCRIPTION

*dpkg-ruby* **Parses a dpkg status file(or other similarly formatted file) and** **outputs the resulting records.  It can use regex on the field** **values to limit the returned records, and it can also be told** **which fields to output.  As another option, it can sort the** **matched fields.**

## OPTIONS

- **-f** *filename*

  - **--file** *filename*

  **The file to parse.  The default is /var/lib/dpkg/status.**

- **-d** *\[#\]*

  - **--debug** *\[#\]*

  **Each time this is specified, it increased the debug level.**

- **-s** *field(s)*

  - **--sort** *field(s)*

  **A space or comma separated list of fields to sort on.**

- **-n** *field(s)*

  - **--numeric** *field(s)*

  **A space or comma separated list of fields that should be** **interpreted as numeric in value.**

- **-rs** *??*

  - **--rec\_sep** *??*

  **Output this string at the end of each output paragraph.**

- **-h**

  - **--help**

  **Display some help.**

- *fieldname*

  **The fields from the file, that are matched with the regex given.** **The** *fieldname***s are case insensitive.**

- *out\_fieldname*

  **The fields from the file, that are outputted for each record.** **If the first field listed is begins with** *^*, **then the list that follows are fields** *NOT* **to be outputted.**

## BUGS

**Be warned that the author has only a shallow understanding of the**  **dpkg packaging system, so there are probably tons of bugs in this** **program.**

**This program comes with no warranties.  If running this program** **causes fire and brimstone to rain down upon the earth, you will be** **on our own.**

**This program accesses the dpkg database directly in places, querying**  **for data that cannot be gotten via dpkg.**

## AUTHOR

**Fumitoshi UKAI \<ukai@debian.or.jp\>.** **This manual page are based on (or almost copy from :) [dpkg-awk(1)](/dpkg-awk/1.md) manual** **written by Adam Heath \<doogie@debian.org\>**