jablicator (1)

jablicator [--root <path>]

jablicator generates an "apt-get"-able package. The package itself is empty. However it has a dependency for every non-required Debian package that is on the machine. This program will create and populate two directories dists and pool in your working directory. You can then move them to a web accessible location.

This utility is designed to reduce software distribution and maintenance costs by reducing redundant system administration. For example, I have spent a lot of time finding and vetting image processing software from Debian's large package collection. With this utility, my image processing colleague down the hall can easily benefit from the fruit of my labor.

There are many replication techniques in Debian. This one has the advantage of using the apt and dpkg infrastructure. A disadvantage is the possibility of packages changing out from under you in the Debian distribution (especially in testing or unstable). That means that jablicator output can grow stale over time if it is not regenerated.

The packages produced by this program contain a lot of information, including a list of the Debian packages installed on the machine and a listing of apt-get sources. Some system administrators consider sharing such information a security risk.

/etc/apt/sources.list

--root <path>

Being able to pull in package selections from another install can be helpful, in the cases of a non-functional system, or reading from a hard drive install under Knoppix. In other words, source from a root filesystem that is not mounted at the root. This is a rare situation and most users should not use this option.

dpkg(8) apt-get(8).

Jeff Breidenbach <[email protected]>.

Tom Parks, Cliff Weinstein, Burkhard Perkens-Golomb.