Basics of source package usage under debian/ubuntu

  toucheatout  2006-10-12 16:43  Linux  

Both Ubuntu and debian use dpkg and apt-get package management system. They work with all those .deb that you encounter. While most often binary packages are used (those that directly install executables, libraries etc in the right place), sometimes the compile options are not those you really would have wanted (for instance some packages in relation with audio/video processing, for codec licensing issues). The source packages repositories are those specified by lines beginning with deb-src in /etc/apt/source.list. Uncomment them if necessary.

The necessary tools

First of all install necessary programs:

build-dep checkinstall fakeroot

The process

Get the source package for the program that you target:apt-get source.

Edit then the desired compile options. You willl find them in debian/rules. In case you need to add or modify compile options, look after lines mentionning confflags.

End it all with fakeroot debian/rules binary to recompile the sources and build the package, then checkinstall as root to check the package installs at least on your system.

Tadin!

You're set!
Thanks go to po-ru.com's example fixing ffmpeg using source package. It has illuminated the easiness of the process.