deb-src-control - Linux

Overview

deb-src-control extracts and processes information from Debian source packages, providing a succinct overview of their contents. It is particularly valuable for managing and analyzing the source packages of Debian-based distributions.

Syntax

deb-src-control [options] <source-package-file>

Options/Flags

• -a, –arch : Specify the target architecture for the extracted control file. Default: any.
• -t, –template : Specify the template file to use for formatting the output. Default: control.sample.yaml.
• -y, –stdout: Send the output to stdout instead of a file.
• -v, –verbose: Increase verbosity level.
• -d, –debug: Enable debug output.
• -h, –help: Print usage information and exit.

Examples

Extract control file information for a package:

deb-src-control -a amd64 python3-defaults

Use a custom template file:

deb-src-control -t custom.yaml -a arm64 linux-image

Send output to stdout:

deb-src-control -y -a armhf firmware-linux-nonfree

Common Issues

• Missing dependencies: Ensure that all dependencies required for extracting the package’s control file are installed.

Integration

Combine with dpkg: Extract control file info before dpkg operations:

deb-src-control -y -a amd64 python3-venv | dpkg-query -s -

Use with apt-get: Generate a list of dependencies before installing:

deb-src-control -y -a arm64 linux-image | grep Depends | cut -d: -f2 | sed 's/,/ /g'

Related Commands

• dpkg-query – Retrieves package information from installed packages.
• apt-get – Manages and installs software packages.
• dpkg – Installs, removes, and manages Debian packages.