Debian Packaging
Debian folder
The "debian"-Folder should be in the root of the project. It contains all Metadata and scripts for creating the final package.
Required Files
These files are the bare minimum to create a Debian package
control
The "control" file contains metadata about the package like version and dependencies, mostly used by package managers like apt. Full specification at: https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-controlfields.html
Building the package
Backports
Packages are typical first build for "sid" ("unstable") and after a few days also released for the current testing distribution (Currently code name "bookworm"). Older Stable distributions only get package updates for bug fixes. New features are only distributed with "backports". Backports are packages original build for a newer distribution, e.g. sid and are rebuilt for older distributions to provide new features.
Naming
The Version of a backported package should end with ~bpoDISTRO+BACKPORT_REVISION with "DISTRO" being replaces with the target distribution number, e.g. 10 for "buster" and "BACKPORT_REVISION" is the package revision number starting at 1.
dch --bpo will automatically create the correct changelog entry for the backport.
| Codename | Number | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bullseye | 11 | 1.2.3-4~bpo11+1
|
| Buster | 10 | 1.2.3-4~bpo10+1
|
| Focal | 22.04 | 1.2.3-4~bpo22.04+1
|
| Bionic | 20.04 | 1.2.3-4~bpo20.04+1
|
Packages are only backported to the last 2 Distributions.
