dh_icons - Linux

Overview

dh_icons is a utility for creating .desktop files and .svg icons for Debian packages. It is commonly used within the Debian packaging process to generate visual representations of installed applications for use in desktop environments.

Syntax

dh_icons [options] [package-name]

Options/Flags

  • –classname=[class]: Sets the Class field in the .desktop file.
  • –comment=[comment]: Sets the Comment field in the .desktop file.
  • –desktop-file=[file-name]: Specifies the name of the generated .desktop file (default: package-name.desktop).
  • –displayname=[name]: Sets the Name field in the .desktop file.
  • –group=[group]: Sets the Group field in the .desktop file.
  • –iconic=[file-name]: Specifies the source icon to be converted to .svg format.
  • –icon=[file-name]: Specifies the Icon field in the .desktop file.
  • –keep=[version]: Specifies the version of the generated .desktop file to keep.
  • –no-gtk=[theme-name]: Prevents generation of .svg icons for the specified GTK theme (e.g., Adwaita).
  • –no-kde=[theme-name]: Prevents generation of .svg icons for the specified KDE theme (e.g., Breeze).
  • –old-gtk=[version]: Generates .svg icons compatible with older versions of GTK (e.g., 2.10 or 3.0).
  • –size=[size]: Specifies the output size of the generated .svg icons in pixels (default: 64).
  • –subdir=[dir-name]: Specifies the subdirectory where the generated .desktop file and .svg icons will be placed (default: usr/share/applications).

Examples

Generating Basic Icons

To create icons for a package named my-package, run:

dh_icons my-package

Customizing the .desktop File

To set a specific Name field in the .desktop file:

dh_icons --displayname="My Package" my-package

Selecting a Specific Icon

To specify a custom source icon for conversion:

dh_icons --iconic=my-icon.png my-package

Using Integration Options

To prevent icon generation for the GTK Adwaita theme:

dh_icons --no-gtk=Adwaita my-package

Common Issues

Missing Icon Dependencies

If dh_icons fails due to missing dependencies, install the appropriate packages:

sudo apt install inkscape librsvg2-bin

Integration

dh_icons can be incorporated into Debian package build scripts using the dh package:

dh_make --buildsystem=debian

Related Commands

  • dh – Debian helper utilities for package building
  • desktop-file-validate – Validates .desktop files
  • inkscape – Vector graphics editor used for icon conversion