Debian Source Package Build

Place the following files in a working directory

bsu_3.0.2-1.diff.gz  (<--if any exists)
bsu_3.0.2.orig.tar.gz
bsu_3.0.2-1.dsc

You should have installed both Fortran and C compilers. It is also good to have helper packages installed (debhelper, dpkg-dev, dh-make, devscripts, lintian). Unpack the source with the following command:

dpkg-source -x bsu_3.0.2-1.dsc

Your screen will output the following (assuming a *.diff.gz file exists)

{vlist5}
dpkg-source: extracting bsu in bsu-3.0.2
dpkg-source: unpacking bsu_3.0.2.orig.tar.gz
dpkg-source: applying ./bsu_3.0.2-1.diff.gz

vlist5

Then change into the debian directory and use your favorite editor (like vi) to edit the changelog file:

{vlist6}
cd bsu-3.0.2
cd debian
vi changelog

vlist6

The changelog file will look something like this:

{vlist7}
bsu (3.0.2-1) stable; urgency=low

  * Initial release (Closes: #0000)

 -- P. Michaels <pm@cgiss.boisestate.edu>  Wed, 09 Apr 2009 16:14:28 -0600

vlist7

Modify the first line with some ID to indicate that the package has been built by you. Let's say your initials are “JMS”, then the modified file would look like this:

{vlist8}
bsu (2.0.1-1JMS) stable; urgency=low

  * Initial release (Closes: #0000)

 -- P. Michaels <pm@cgiss.boisestate.edu>  Wed, 09 Apr 2009 16:14:28 -0600

vlist8

This would be the minimum change. Changelog files have a rigorous format, so quit while you are ahead, and save the modified file. Then move up a directory and execute the build command:

{vlist9}
cd ..
dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot -uc -us

vlist9

If all goes well, you will have a *.deb binary file built (it will be located in the same directory as the *.dsc file). The new *.deb file can be installed as above in section 2.6.1. If all does not go well, it probably will mean that you need to install a package or compiler, or something that BSU needs. Just read the error message.