deb (file format)

Debian package
The GNOME icon for deb files
Filename extension	`.deb, .udeb`
Internet media type	`application/vnd.debian.binary-package^[1]`
Developed by	Debian
Type of format	Package management system
Container for	Software package
Extended from	`ar` archive, `tarball`
Website	deb(5)

deb is the extension of the Debian software package format and the most often used name for such binary packages.

Design

GDebi installing a .deb package

Debian packages are standard Unix ar archives that include two tar archives optionally compressed with gzip (zlib), Bzip2, lzma, or xz (lzma2): one archive holds the control information and another contains the program data.

The accepted program for handling these packages is dpkg, most commonly via other programs such as apt/aptitude, the Ubuntu Software Center, Synaptic or Gdebi.

Debian packages can be converted into other packages and vice versa using alien, and created from source code using CheckInstall or Debian Package Maker.

Some core Debian packages are available as udebs (“micro debs”), and are typically used only for bootstrapping a Debian installation. Although these files use the udeb filename extension, they adhere to the same structure specification as ordinary deb files. However, unlike their deb counterparts, udeb packages contain only essential functional files.^[2] In particular, documentation files are normally omitted. udeb packages are not installable on a standard Debian system, but are used in Debian-Installer.

Implementation

Since Debian 0.93, a deb file is implemented as an ar archive. Canonical contents of this archive are three files:

debian-binary: deb format version number. This is "2.0" for current versions of Debian.
control.tar, control.tar.gz or control.tar.xz: all package meta-information. It tells dpkg what to configure when the package is being installed.
data.tar, data.tar.gz, data.tar.bz2, data.tar.lzma or data.tar.xz: the actual installable files.

The debian-binary file must be the first entry in the archive, otherwise it will not be recognized as a Debian package.

Adoption

Debian packages are also used in distributions based on Debian, such as Ubuntu and others. They are also used in Cydia.

References

↑ "Media Type Registration for vnd.debian.binary-package". Internet Assigned Numbers Authority. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
↑ http://d-i.alioth.debian.org/doc/internals/ch03.html

External links

Debian

Software in the Public Interest

General

People

Derivatives

Kernels	Debian GNU/Hurd Debian GNU/kFreeBSD Debian Pure Blend

Forks	Linux Mint Ubuntu (operating system)

Software

Miscellaneous

Mozilla software rebranded by Debian

Category
Commons
Wikiversity

Archive formats

Archiving only	ar cpio shar tar LBR BagIt WAD

Compression only	bzip2 gzip lzip LZMA lzop xz SQ compress

Archiving and compression	7z ACE ARC ARJ B1 Cabinet cfs cpt DGCA .dmg .egg kgb LHA LZX MPQ PEA qda RAR rzip sit SQX UDA UHARC Xar zoo ZIP ZPAQ

Software packaging and distribution	APK deb Package (OS X) RPM MSI JAR WAR Java RAR EAR

Document packaging and distribution	OEB Package Format OEBPS Container Format Open Packaging Conventions PAQ

Comparison List Category

Package management systems

Compiled packages (binary)

Linux
(Formats)

dpkg	APT aptitude dselect Ubuntu Software Center

RPM	YUM DNF APT-RPM up2date urpmi ZYpp

tar-ball	slapt-get slackpkg netpkg swaret

Other	Conary pacman PETget PISI Portage Steam Upkg

IPS
Pkgutil

Embedded OS

ipkg
opkg

Mobile OS

Gaming console

Cross-platform

Plug-ins

Google Chrome	Chrome Web Store

Firefox	Mozilla Add-ons

Uncompiled packages (source code)

Linux	Portage emerge Compile apt-build Sorcery ABS

OS X	Fink MacPorts Homebrew pkgsrc

Hybrid systems	BitBake FreeBSD Ports MacPorts pkgsrc ports collection

Meta package managers	Autopackage klik Zero Install PackageKit

List
Category
Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, February 26, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.