backport-dsc - backport Debian source packages
backport-dsc [OPTIONS] <dsc-file>
Helper to aid backporting a Debian source package to an arbitrary distribution release. backport-dsc aids backporting by appropriately mangling the source package version, adjusting the maintainer of a package and compiling an informative changelog entry. Moreover, it supports distribution specific patches (plain, or for format 3.0 (quilt) source packages) and allow modification of debian/control via arbitrary 'sed' expressions. Backport relevant patches can be embedded in source packages for use with backport-dsc. The distribution name (see --target-distribution) serves as an identifier to search for patches in the source package that shall be applied for a particular distribution. For packages using format the 3.0 (quilt), backport-dsc will look for debian/patches/series-<distname> and append it to the main patch series. Moreover, backport-dsc will also look for patches matching /debian/patches/<distname>-dsc-patch* and apply them to the source package. The latter patches, unlike the former quilt series, can also be used to modify the debian/ directory itself.
-d <distname>, --target-distribution <distname> Arbitrary distribution name (e.g. squeeze-backports). This will be the target distribution used for the backport changelog entry. The distribution name also serves as an identifier to search for backport patches in the source package. -h, --help Print short description, usage summary and option list. --maint-email <email> Specify the backport maintainer's email address. Alternatively, backport-dsc will use the DEBEMAIL environment setting. --maint-name <name> Specify the backport maintainer's real name. Alternatively, backport-dsc will use the DEBFULLNAME environment setting. --mod-control <expression> sed expression to modify debian/control. The option can be given multiple times and all expressions will be passed to sed in the order of appearance. This can be used to, e.g. change build or runtime dependencies. --no-backport-patches If set, potentially existing backport patches will not be applied/activated. --no-colored If set, backport-dsc won't colorize its status and error messages. --no-maintainer-update If set, the orginal maintainer is preserved in the backported source package. This should only be done if original maintainer and backporter are identical. Otherwise the porter should take responsibility for the source package backport and identify herself as the maintainer. -s <string>, --version-suffix <string> Version suffix that will be appended to the original source package version, ideally indicating the backport target distribution. The resulting package version will follow this schema: <originalversion><prefix><suffix>+<digit> e.g.: 1.2.3-4~bpo60+1 with default <prefix>=~ -p <string>, --version-prefix <string> Version prefix that will be prepended to the backport version. By default it is ~ but want to be changed (e.g. to +) for forward-porting to next releases. --verbose Enable additional status messages. --verbose-help Print all available help. --version Print version information and exit.
backport-dsc acknowledges the common environment variables DEBFULLNAME and DEBEMAIL to specify the maintainer.
backport-dsc reads configuration from two files: system-wide from /etc/backports-dsc and per user settings from $HOME/.backport-dsc (in that order). Both files have to be valid bash scripts that will be sourced by backport-dsc. The following variables (each shown with an example setting) can be used to pre-configure backport-dsc: bp_distribution="squeeze-backports" Backport target distribution (see --backport-distribution) bp_version_prefix="~" Version prefix (see --version-prefix) bp_version_suffix="bpo60" Version suffix (see --version-suffix) bp_maintainer_name="Unknown fellow" Name of the backport maintainer (see --maint-name) bp_maintainer_email="user@example.net" Email address of backport maintainer (see --maint-email) bp_apply_patches=1 Whether or not to apply backport patches found in a source package. (see --no-backport-patches) bp_color_output=1 Enable or disable colored status output (see --no-color) bp_verbose=0 Enable verbose status output (see --verbose) bp_mod_control="--mod-control 's/^Depends:.*$/&, mypackage/'" sed expressions to modify debian/control, for example to add dependencies (see --mod-control) bp_update_maintainer=1 Whether or not to replace the original maintainer in the backported source package (see --no-maintainer-update)
backport-dsc examplepkg_1.2.3-4.dsc Create backport suitable for backports.org backport-dsc -d myown-backports -v mo2010 examplepkg_1.2.3-4.dsc Create backport for some custom distribution with custom version suffix. backport-dsc -d ubuntu-lucid -v myppa --mod-control "-e 's/iceweasel/firefox/g'" examplepkg_1.2.3-4.dsc Create a backport for a fake Ubuntu PPA repository, replacing all occurrences of iceweasel in debian/control with firefox.
Written by Michael Hanke for the NeuroDebian project.
Report bugs to <michael.hanke@gmail.com>.
Copyright 2010-2012 Michael Hanke <michael.hanke@gmail.com> Licensed under GNU Public License version 2 or later. This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Personal Opportunity - Free software gives you access to billions of dollars of software at no cost. Use this software for your business, personal use or to develop a profitable skill. Access to source code provides access to a level of capabilities/information that companies protect though copyrights. Open source is a core component of the Internet and it is available to you. Leverage the billions of dollars in resources and capabilities to build a career, establish a business or change the world. The potential is endless for those who understand the opportunity.
Business Opportunity - Goldman Sachs, IBM and countless large corporations are leveraging open source to reduce costs, develop products and increase their bottom lines. Learn what these companies know about open source and how open source can give you the advantage.
Free Software provides computer programs and capabilities at no cost but more importantly, it provides the freedom to run, edit, contribute to, and share the software. The importance of free software is a matter of access, not price. Software at no cost is a benefit but ownership rights to the software and source code is far more significant.
Free Office Software - The Libre Office suite provides top desktop productivity tools for free. This includes, a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation engine, drawing and flowcharting, database and math applications. Libre Office is available for Linux or Windows.
The Free Books Library is a collection of thousands of the most popular public domain books in an online readable format. The collection includes great classical literature and more recent works where the U.S. copyright has expired. These books are yours to read and use without restrictions.
Source Code - Want to change a program or know how it works? Open Source provides the source code for its programs so that anyone can use, modify or learn how to write those programs themselves. Visit the GNU source code repositories to download the source.
Study at Harvard, Stanford or MIT - Open edX provides free online courses from Harvard, MIT, Columbia, UC Berkeley and other top Universities. Hundreds of courses for almost all major subjects and course levels. Open edx also offers some paid courses and selected certifications.
Linux Manual Pages - A man or manual page is a form of software documentation found on Linux/Unix operating systems. Topics covered include computer programs (including library and system calls), formal standards and conventions, and even abstract concepts.