deb-control - Linux
Overview
deb-control is a command-line tool used to read and modify the control information stored in the Debian package control file (control) of a Debian package. It provides an interactive environment for editing and managing these files.
Syntax
deb-control [options] [control-file]
The control-field
specifies the control field to work on, e.g., Description
.
Options/Flags
- -n : Do not save any changes, only print the modified file.
- -s : Start in a shell instead of editing.
- -h / –help : Display help information.
- –version : Display version information.
Examples
Editing a Description field:
deb-control -n Description
Printing modified control file:
deb-control -n
Common Issues
- Missing control file: Ensure that the
control
file is present in the current working directory. - Permission denied: Verify that you have write access to the
control
file.
Integration
- Use deb-control with dpkg-deb to extract control data from a package:
dpkg-deb -f package.deb | deb-control
- Combine with grep to search for specific fields:
deb-control | grep Maintainer
Related Commands
- dpkg-deb : Manipulates Debian packages.
- dpkg-query : Provides information about installed packages.