dh_shlibdeps - Linux

Overview

dh_shlibdeps generates dependency information for shared libraries, making it easier to package them for distribution. It reads object files and creates a Depends: line for a Debian package’s control file, ensuring that the package includes all necessary dependencies.

Syntax

dh_shlibdeps [-e|--exclude=PACKAGES...] [-x|--extra=PACKAGES...] [-a|--arch=ARCHITECTURE...] [-- DEBIAN_FILE]

Options/Flags

-e, –exclude=PACKAGES…: Exclude packages from dependency resolution.
-x, –extra=PACKAGES…: Include extra packages in dependency resolution.
-a, –arch=ARCHITECTURE…: Specify the target architecture(s) for dependency resolution.
—: Pass options directly to ldd.

Examples

Simple Usage:

dh_shlibdeps hello -- hello.deb

Custom Architecture:

dh_shlibdeps --arch=armhf,arm64 hello -- hello.deb

Common Issues

Missing Dependencies: Ensure that all relevant packages are included in --extra or that they are already installed on the system.
Conflicting Architectures: Check that the target architecture specified in --arch matches the architecture of the system where the package will be installed.

Integration

Build Dependencies: Integrate dh_shlibdeps into build processes to automatically generate dependency information for packaged shared libraries.
Package Maintenance: Use dh_shlibdeps to update dependency information during package updates or when new dependencies are introduced.