deb-reversion

DEB-REVERSION(1)                [FIXME: manual]               DEB-REVERSION(1)

NAME
       deb-reversion - simple script to change the version of a .deb file

SYNOPSIS
       deb-reversion [options] .deb-file [log message...]

DESCRIPTION
       deb-reversion unpacks the specified .deb file, changes the version
       number in the relevant locations, appends a Debian changelog entry with
       the specified contents, and creates a new .deb file with the updated
       version.

       By default, the tool creates a new version number suitable for local
       changes, such that the new package will be greater than the current
       one, but lesser than any future, official Debian packages. With -v
       version, the version number can be specified directly. On the other
       hand, the -c simply calculates the new version number but does not
       generate a new package.

       When building a .deb file, root privileges are required in order to
       have the correct permissions and ownerships in the resulting .deb file.
       This can be achieved either by running deb-reversion as root or running
       under fakeroot(1), as 'fakeroot deb-reversion foo.deb'.

       With -k hook, a hook script may be specified, which is run on the
       unpacked binary packages just before it is repacked. If you want to
       write changelog entries from within the hook, use 'dch -a -- your
       message'. (Alternatively, do not give a changelog entry on the
       deb-reversion command line and dch will be called automatically.) The
       hook command must be placed in quotes if it has more than one word; it
       is called via sh -c.

OPTIONS
       -v new-version, --new-version new-version
           Specifies the version number to be used for the new version. Passed
           to dch(1).

       -o old-version, --old-version old-version
           Specifies the version number to be used as the old version instead
           of the version stored in the .deb's control file.

       -c, --calculate-only
           Only calculate and display the new version number which would be
           used; do not build a new .deb file. Cannot be used in conjunction
           with -v.

       -s string, --string string
           Instead of using 'LOCAL.' as the version string to append to the
           old version number, use string instead.

       -k hook-command, --hook hook-command
           A hook command to run after unpacking the old .deb file and
           modifying the changelog, and before packing up the new .deb file.
           Must be in quotes if it is more than one (shell) word. Only one
           hook command may be specified; if you want to perform more than
           this, you could specify 'bash' as the hook command, and you will
           then be given a shell to work in.

       -D, --debug
           Pass --debug to dpkg-deb(1).

       -b, --force-bad-version
           Pass --force-bad-version to dch(1)

       -h, --help
           Display usage information.

       -V, --version
           Display version information.

SEE ALSO
       dch(1), dpkg-deb(1), fakeroot(1)

DISCLAIMER
       deb-reversion is a tool intended to help porters with modifying
       packages for other architectures, and to augment deb-repack, which
       creates modified packages with identical version numbers as the
       official packages. Chaos will ensue! With deb-reversion, a proper
       version number can be selected, which does not obstruct the next
       official release but can be specifically pinned with APT or held with
       dpkg.

       Please take note that deb-reversion does not come without problems.
       While it works fine in most cases, it may just not in yours.
       Especially, please consider that it changes binary packages (only!) and
       hence can break strict versioned dependencies between binary packages
       generated from the same source.

       You are using this tool at your own risk and I shall not shed a tear if
       your gerbil goes up in flames, your microwave attacks the stereo, or
       the angry slamming of your fist spills your coffee into the keyboard,
       which sets off a chain reaction resulting in a vast amount of money
       transferred from your account to mine.

AUTHOR
       deb-reversion is Copyright 2004-5 by martin f. krafft
       <madduck@debian.org> and modifications are Copyright 2006 by Julian
       Gilbey <jdg@debian.org>.

       Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
       under the terms of the Artistic License:
       http://www.opensource.org/licenses/artistic-license.php. On Debian
       systems, the complete text of the Artistic License can be found in
       /usr/share/common-licenses/Artistic.

       This manual page was written by martin f. krafft <madduck@debian.org>
       and modified by Julian Gilbey <jdg@debian.org>.

NOTES
        1. http://www.opensource.org/licenses/artistic-license.php

[FIXME: source]                  Feb 13, 2006                 DEB-REVERSION(1)