---
name: "rredtool"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "reprepro"
version: "5.5.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/rredtool"
---

# rredtool(1)

merge or apply a very restricted subset of ed patches

## NAME

rredtool - merge or apply a very restricted subset of ed patches

## SYNOPSIS

**rredtool --help**

**rredtool** \[ *options* \] **--merge** *patches...*

**rredtool** \[ *options* \] **--patch** *file-to-patch* *patches...*

**rredtool** *directory* *newfile* *oldfile* *mode*

## DESCRIPTION

rredtool is a tool to handle a subset of ed patches in a safe way. It is especially targeted at ed patches as used in Packages.diff and Sources.diff. Is also has a mode supposed to be called from reprepro as Index Hook to generate and update a **Packages.diff/Index** file.

## MODI

One of the following has to be given, so that rredtool know that to do.

- **--version**

  Print the version of this tool (or rather the version of reprepro which it is coming with).

- **--help**

  Print a short overview of the modi.

- **--patch**

  The first argument of rredtool is the file to patch, the other arguments are ed patches to apply on this one.

- **--merge**

  The arguments are treated as ed patches, which are merged into a single one.

- **--reprepro-hook** (or no other mode flag)

  Act as reprepro index hook to manage a **Packages.diff/index** file. That means it expects to get exactly 4 arguments and writes the names of files to place into filedescriptor 3.

  If neither --patch nor --merge is given, this mode is used, so you can just put

   **DebIndices: Packages Release . .gz /usr/bin/rredtool**

  into reprepro's **conf/distributions** file to have a Packages.diff directory generated. (Note that you have to generate an uncompressed file (the single dot). You will need to have patch, gzip and gunzip available in your path.)

## OPTIONS

- **--debug**

  Print intermediate results or other details that might be interesting when trying to track down bugs in rredtool but not intresting otherwise.

- **--max-patch-count=*count***

  When generating a *Packages***.diff/Index** file, put at most *count* patches in it (not counting possible apt workaround patches).

- **-o**\|**--output**

  Not yet implemented.

## ENVIRONMENT

- **TMPDIR**, **TEMPDIR**

  temporary files are created in $*TEMPDIR* if set, otherwise in $*TMPDIR* if set, otherwise in **/tmp/**.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs or wishlist requests the Debian BTS (e.g. by using **reportbug reperepro**) or directly to \<brlink@debian.org\>.\

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2009 Bernhard R. Link\
 This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.