In particular, documentation files are normally omitted. However, unlike their deb counterparts, udeb packages contain only essential functional files. Although these files use the udeb filename extension, they adhere to the same structure specification as ordinary deb files.

Some core Debian packages are available as udebs ('micro debs'), and are typically used only for bootstrapping a Debian installation. ĭebian packages can be converted into other package formats and vice versa using alien, and created from source code using checkinstall or the Debian Package Maker. Generally end users don't manage packages directly with dpkg but instead use the APT package management software or other APT front-ends such as aptitude ( nCurses) and synaptic ( GTK). ĭpkg provides the basic functionality for installing and manipulating Debian packages. One archive holds the control information and another contains the installable data.

Debian packages are standard Unix ar archives that include two tar archives.

Deb packages