NAME¶
jablicator - Share package collection choice across machines
SYNOPSIS¶
jablicator [--root <path>]
DESCRIPTION¶
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.
SECURITY¶
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.
FILES¶
/etc/apt/sources.list
OPTIONS¶
- --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.
SEE ALSO¶
dpkg(8) apt-get(8).
AUTHOR¶
Jeff Breidenbach <jab@debian.org>.
THANKS¶
Tom Parks, Cliff Weinstein, Burkhard Perkens-Golomb.