---
name: "epm"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "epm"
version: "4.2-12"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/epm"
---

# epm(1)

create software packages.

## NAME

epm - create software packages.

## SYNOPSIS

**epm** \[ -a *architecture* \] \[ -f *format* \] \[ -g \] \[ -k \] \[ -m *name* \] \[ -n\[mrs\] \] \[ -s *setup.xpm* \] \[ --depend \] \[ --help \] \[ --keep-files \] \[ --output-dir *directory* \] \[ --setup-image *setup.xpm* \] \[ --setup-program */foo/bar/setup* \] \[ --setup-types *setup.types* \] \[ -v \] \[ *name=value*\
  ... *name=value* \] product \[ *listfile* \]

## DESCRIPTION

**epm** generates software packages complete with installation, removal, and (if necessary) patch scripts. Unless otherwise specified, the files required for *product* are read from a file named "*product*.list".

The *-a* option ("architecture") specifies the actual architecture for the software. Without this option the generic processor architecture is used ("intel", "sparc", "mips", etc.)

The *-f* option ("format") specifies the distribution format:

- aix

  Generate an AIX distribution suitable for installation on an AIX system.

- bsd

  Generate a BSD distribution suitable for installation on a FreeBSD, NetBSD, or OpenBSD system.

- deb

  Generate a Debian distribution suitable for installation on a Debian Linux system.

- inst, tardist

  Generate an IRIX distribution suitable for installation on an system running IRIX.

- lsb, lsb-signed

  Generate RPM packages for LSB-conforming systems. The lsb-signed format uses the GPG private key you have defined in the ~/.rpmmacros file.

- native

  Generate an native distribution. This uses *rpm* for Linux, *inst* for IRIX, *pkg* for Solaris, *swinstall* for HP-UX, *bsd* for FreeBSD, NetBSD, and OpenBSD, and *osx* for MacOS X. All other operating systems default to the *portable* format.

- osx

  Generate a MacOS X software package.

- pkg

  Generate an AT&T software package. These are used primarily under Solaris.

- portable

  Generate a portable distribution based on shell scripts and tar files.  The resulting distribution is installed and removed the same way on all operating systems. \[default\]

- rpm, rpm-signed

  Generate a Red Hat Package Manager ("RPM") distribution suitable for installation on a Red Hat Linux system. The rpm-signed format uses the GPG private key you have defined in the ~/.rpmmacros file.

- setld

  Generate a Tru64 (setld) software distribution.

- slackware

  Generate a Slackware Linux software distribution.

- swinstall, depot

  Generate a HP-UX software distribution.

Executable files in the distribution are normally stripped of debugging information when packaged. To disable this functionality use the *-g* option.

Intermediate (spec, etc.) files used to create the distribution are normally removed after the distribution is created. The *-k* option keeps these files in the distribution directory.

The *-s* and *--setup-image* options ("setup") include the ESP Software Wizard with the specified GIF or XPM image file with the distribution. This option is currently only supported by portable and RPM distributions.

The *--setup-program* option specifies the setup executable to use with the distribution. This option is currently only supported by portable distributions.

The *--setup-types* option specifies the *setup.types* file to include with the distribution. This option is currently only supported by portable distributions.

The *--output-dir* option specifies the directory to place output file into. The default directory is based on the operating system, version, and architecture.

The *-v* option ("verbose") increases the amount of information that is reported. Use multiple v's for more verbose output.

The *--depend* option lists the dependent (source) files for all files in the package.

Distributions normally are named "product-version-system-release-machine.ext" and "product-version-system-release-machine-patch.ext" (for patch distributions.) The "system-release-machine" information can be customized or eliminated using the *-n* option with the appropriate trailing letters. Using *-n* by itself will remove the "system-release-machine" string from the filename entirely. The "system-release-machine" information can also be customized by using the *-m* option with an arbitrary string.

Debian, IRIX, portable, and Red Hat distributions use the extensions ".deb", ".tardist", "tar.gz", and ".rpm" respectively.

## LIST FILES

The EPM list file format is now described in the *[epm.list(5)](/epm.list/5.md)* man page.

## KNOWN BUGS

EPM does not currently support generation of IRIX software patches.

## SEE ALSO

[epminstall(1)](/epminstall/1.md) - add a directory, file, or symlink to a list file\
 [mkepmlist(1)](/mkepmlist/1.md) - make an epm list file from a directory\
 [epm.list(5)](/epm.list/5.md) - epm list file format\
 [setup(1)](/setup/1.md) - graphical setup program for the esp package manager

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright 1999-2008 by Easy Software Products, All Rights Reserved.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.