Build Debian packages and offer them in PPAs
Wrapped with a Bow on Top
© Lead Image © belchonock, 123RF.com
Is the current package for your favorite Ubuntu program woefully behind the times? No problem: Just a few steps creates an updated Debian package that you can then share with others in a PPA.
Although your favorite Debian distro comes with many thousands of packages, some updated tools are still occasionally missing. Eventually, the maintainers might offer the corresponding packages themselves, but packaging these tools in a timely manner for each release of a distribution can be difficult.
If you want to use a new version of a program that is not yet included in your current distribution, you can create a solution yourself without any expertise in building Debian packages. If the package sources for the old version are available, constructing packages from them for the new version is usually pretty easy to do. A positive side effect is that you have the opportunity to do something good for the open source community: Provide your packages to Launchpad [1] via a PPA (Personal Package Archive) and share the results of your work with other users.
In this article, I describe an example of how to build a new, updated Debian package from old sources for the KDE backup software Kup. Most of your work will be in the terminal, because you'll be working in a chroot environment, which only makes sense from the command line. Basic knowledge of the command line's general functionality is therefore required, and you should be familiar with the important commands. The first step involves creating a suitable environment for constructing the package.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Arch Linux Available for Windows Subsystem for Linux
If you've ever wanted to use a rolling release distribution with WSL, now's your chance.
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.