# An Easy to Use Boilerplate 'debuild' Project "dpkg-deb-boilerplate" is an easy to use boilerplate `debuild` project for building debian package using [Lanuchpad](https://launchpad.net) or other services. ### Why do I need it? Isn't `dpkg --build dirname` enough? `dpkg --build dirname` is good, but debian packaging policy provides a solid build system to easily install application binaries, libraries, service scripts, launchers, manuals etc. Also for automated build systems like `ubuntu launchpad` or `opensuse build service` you need to provide a source archive, not prebuild binaries. This boilerplate might come handy in such circumstance. ### What do I need to make it working? Install `build-essentials` which will automatically install `make`, `gcc`, `g++`, `dpkg-dev` etc. packages. ### How do I make it working? * Download the repository. * `cd` to `project-1.0` directory and run `dpkg-buildpackage -us -uc`. * Several files including `project_1.0_amd64.deb` will be built at parent directory. ### So, how does it work actually? Basically the boilerplate does 1. Compile and build a demo library and executable from source, and install them to `build` directory. 2. Debian packaging system takes the files from `build` directory, and packs them into `deb` file. ### Umm, can you be more specific? * `src/project` contains the source. Running `make -c src/project` builds `project`, `project.h` and `libproject.so`. Then `make -c src/project install` copies them to `build` directory. * `debian/rules` creates a shadow directory tree under `debian/project`, and copies files from `build` to there. * `debian/control` is used to specify package name, architecture, dependecy, version, maintainer etc inforamtion. * `postrm` is used to cleanup when package is uninstalled. * `postinst` is used to reload library database after install (helps the command `project` easily find `libproject.so`. ### Can I add my own init.d script, launcher icon, manual pages etc? Yup, you surely can. Check out [Debian Policy Manual](https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/) and you are good to go.
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