---
name: "fp-fix-timestamps"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "fp-utils"
version: "3.2.2+dfsg-20"
release: "Debian 12 (Bookworm)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/fp-fix-timestamps"
---

# fp-fix-timestamps(1)

helper script for the Free Pascal stack in Debian

## NAME

**fp-fix-timestamps** - helper script for the Free Pascal stack in Debian

## SYNOPSIS

```
fp-fix-timestamps check|update|touch
```

## DESCRIPTION

**fp-fix-timestamps is meant to be used by Debian source packages in the Free** **Pascal stack. The primary location for use is the debian/rules file. The aim of** **this script is to fix the timestamps of patched files (with respect to** **upstream) that would otherwise end up changing the timestamp stored in ppu** **files.**

**This timestamp in ppu files has two issues:**

- 1\.

  **It deteriorates reproducible builds.**

- 2\.

  **Reverse dependent packages that also build ppu files may believe that the** **source has changed and either require recompilation of the source or at least** **require recalculation all the time.**

**Currently this script supports three operations.**

- 1\.

  **touch: The main operation is to touch the files that are listed in** **debian/source/timestamps to the associated timestamps (in that same file).**

- 2\.

  **check: When the situation is simple and the only changes in the package to** **the source come from patches, the check option can be used to verify that the** **list in debian/source/timestamps is still up-to-date in the sense that all** **files touched by patches are listed and that all files listed are touched by** **patches.**

- 3\.

  **update: Similar to check, but also update the debian/source/timestamps file.**

**When the maintainer scripts modify a source file outside of the patches, the** **maintainer is free to add those files manually to the timestamps file, but then** **the check and update options don't work as expected anymore.**

## SEE ALSO

**https://wiki.debian.org/ReproducibleBuilds/TimestampsInPPUGeneratedByFPC**

## AUTHOR

**Paul Gevers \<elbrus@debian.org\>**