# Getting started with `dh-debputy` _This is [how-to guide] and is primarily aimed at getting a task done._ This document will help you convert a Debian source package using the `dh` sequencer from `debhelper` to use `dh-debputy`, where `debputy` is integrated with `debhelper`. Prerequisites for this how-to guide: * You have a Debian source package using the `dh` sequencer on `debhelper` compat level 12 or later. * It is strongly recommended that your package is bit-for-bit reproducible before starting the conversion as that makes it easier to spot bugs introduced by the conversion! The output of `debputy` will *not* be bit-for-bit reproducible with `debhelper` in all cases. However, the differences should be easy to review with `diffoscope` if the package was already bit-for-bit reproducible. Note that during the conversion (particularly Step 2 and Step 3), you may find that `debputy` cannot support the requirements for your package for now. Feel free to file an issue for what is holding you back in the [debputy issue tracker]. Prerequisites ------------- This guide assumes familiarity with Debian packaging in general. Notably, you should understand the different between a (Debian) source package and a (Debian) binary package (e.g., `.deb`) plus how these concepts relates to `debian/control` (the source control file). Additionally, since this is about `debputy` integration with debhelper, the reader is expected to be familiar with `debhelper` (notably the `dh` style `debian/rules`). ## Step 1: Choose the level of migration target When migrating a package to `debputy`, you have to choose at which level you want `debputy` to manage your packaging. At the time of writing, your options are: 1) `dh-sequence-zz-debputy-rrr`: Minimal integration necessary to get support for `Rules-Requires-Root: no` in all packages. It is compatible with most `dh` based packages as it only replaces very few helpers and therefore usually also requires very little migration. 2) `dh-sequence-zz-debputy`: In this integration mode, `debhelper` manages the upstream build system (that is, anything up to and including `dh_auto_install`). Everything else is managed by `debputy`. This mode is less likely to be compatible with complex packaging at the time of writing. Notably, most `debhelper` add-ons will not be compatible with `debputy` in this integration mode. - For this integration mode, you are recommended to pick a simple package as many packages cannot be converted at this time. Note that this mode does *not* interact well with most third-party `dh` addons. You are recommended to start with source packages without third-party `dh` addons. 3) `full`: This mode exists but is beyond the scope of this guide. In this mode, `dh` and `debian/rules` are removed from the build process. If `full` integration is your goal, using `dh-sequence-zz-debputy` is a good starting point, as any actions needed for `dh-sequence-zz-debputy` will also be needed for the `full` integration mode. Since you can always migrate from "less integrated" to "more integrated", you are recommended to start with `dh-sequence-zz-debputy-rrr` first. If that works, you can re-run the migration with `dh-sequence-zz-debputy` as the target to see if further integration seems feasible / desirable. For more details on integration modes, please see [INTEGRATION-MODES.md](INTEGRATION-MODES.md) Note: More options may appear in the future. ## Step 2: Have `debputy` convert relevant `debhelper` files The `debputy` integration with `debhelper` removes (replaces) some debhelper tools, but does **not** read their relevant config files. These should instead be converted in to the new format. You can have `debputy` convert these for you by using the following command: # Dry-run conversion, creates `debian/debputy-manifest.new` if anything is migrated and prints a summary # of what is done and what you manually need to fix. Replace `--no-apply-changes` with `--apply-changes` # when you are ready to commit the conversion. # - Replace MIGRATION_TARGET in the command with the concrete target from step 1 $ debputy migrate-from-dh --migration-target MIGRATION_TARGET --no-apply-changes Note: Running `debputy migrate-from-dh ...` multiple times is supported and often recommended as it can help you assert that all detectable issues have been fixed. If relevant, `debputy` may inform you that: 1) the package needs to change build dependencies or/and activate `dh` add-ons. Concretely, it will ask you to ensure that the relevant `dh` add-on is added for `debputy` sequence matching the migration target. Additionally, it may ask you to add build-dependencies for activating `debputy` plugins to match certain `dh` add-ons. - Note that if `debputy` asks you to add a `debputy` plugin without removing the `dh` add-on it supposedly replaces then keep the `dh` active. Sometimes the add-on is only partly converted and sometimes the `dh` sequence is used to pull relevant build-dependencies. 2) the package is using an unsupported feature. Unless that functionality can easily be removed (e.g., it is now obsolete) or easily replaced, then you probably do not want to convert the package to `debputy` at this time. * One common source of unsupported features are dh hook targets (such as override targets), which will be covered in slightly more detail in the next section. If `debputy` detected any hook targets, it is probably worth it to check if these can be migrated before continuing or run earlier in a hook target that is not removed. * Other cases can be that the package uses a feature, where `debputy` behaves differently than `debhelper` would at the given compat level. In this case, `debputy` will recommend that you perform a compat upgrade in `debhelper` before migrating to `debputy`. * It is worth noting that the migration tool will update an existing manifest when re-run. You can safely "jump" around in the order of the steps, when you try to migrate, if that better suits you. 3) the migration would trigger a conflict. This can occur for two reasons: * The debhelper configuration has the conflict (example [#934499]), where debhelper is being lenient and ignores the problem. In this case, you need to resolve the conflict in the debhelper config and re-run `debputy`. * The package has a manifest already with a similar (but not identical) definition of what the migration would generate. In this case, you need to reconcile the definitions manually (and removing one of them). After that you can re-run `debputy`. As an example, if you had a `debian/foo.links` (with `foo` being defined in `debian/control`) containing the following: usr/share/foo/my-first-symlink usr/share/bar/symlink-target usr/lib/{{DEB_HOST_MULTIARCH}}/my-second-symlink usr/lib/{{DEB_HOST_MULTIARCH}}/baz/symlink-target The `debputy migrate-from-dh --migration-target dh-sequence-zz-debputy` tool would generate a manifest looking something like this: manifest-version: "0.1" packages: foo: transformations: - create-symlink: path: usr/share/foo/my-first-symlink target: /usr/share/bar/symlink-target - create-symlink: path: usr/lib/{{DEB_HOST_MULTIARCH}}/my-second-symlink target: /usr/lib/{{DEB_HOST_MULTIARCH}}/baz/symlink-target ## Step 3: Migrate override/hook-targets in debian/rules Have a look at the hook targets that `debputy migrate-from-dh` flags as unsupported and migrate them to `debputy` features or move them to earlier hook targets that are supported. See also the subsections below for concrete advice on how to deal with override or hook targets for some of these tools. However, since `debhelper` hooks are arbitrary code execution hooks, there will be many cases that the guide will not be able to cover or where `debputy` may not have the feature to support your hook target. While you could manually force any of the removed `debhelper` tools to be run via a hook target, they are very likely to feature interact with `debputy`. Either causing `debputy` to replace their output completely or by having the tool overwrite what `debputy` did (depending on the exact order). If you find, you *really* need to run one of these tools, because `debputy` is not supporting a particular feature they have, then you are probably better off not migrate to this level of `debputy` integration at this time. ### Affected debhelper command list for `dh-sequence-zz-debputy-rrr` integration mode The following `debhelper` commands are replaced in the `dh-sequence-zz-debputy-rrr` integration mode. Generally, `debputy migrate-from-dh` will warn you if there is anything to worry about in relation to these commands. * `dh_fixperms` * `dh_shlibdeps` * `dh_gencontrol` * `dh_md5sums` * `dh_builddeb` In case something is flagged, it is most likely a hook target, which either have to be converted to `debputy`'s features or moved earlier. The most common cases are hook targets for `dh_fixperms` and `dh_gencontrol`, which have sections below advising how to approach those. The only potential problematic command would be `dh_shlibdeps`. The `debputy` toolchain replaces `dh_shlibdeps` with a similar behavior to that of debhelper compat 14. If you need selective promotion or demotion of parts of a substvar, then that is currently not supported. ### Affected debhelper command list for `dh-sequence-zz-debputy` integration mode The following `debhelper` commands are replaced in the `dh-sequence-zz-debputy` integration mode. The `debputy migrate-from-dh` command will warn you where it can when some of these are used. However, some usage may only become apparent during package build. Therefore, `debputy migrate-from-dh` can be silent even though `debputy` during the build will flag an unsupported feature. You are recommended to skim through this list for commands where your package might be using non-trivial or non-default features, as those are likely to prevent migration at this time. Pay extra attention to commands marked with **(!)** as `debputy` has zero or almost zero support for features from these commands. Other tools will have some form of support (often at least a commonly used flow/feature set). * `dh_install` * `dh_installdocs` * `dh_installchangelogs` * `dh_installexamples` * `dh_installman` * `dh_installcatalogs` **(!)** * `dh_installcron` * `dh_installifupdown` * `dh_installdebconf` **(!)** * `dh_installemacsen` **(!)** * `dh_installinfo` * `dh_installinit` * `dh_installsysusers` * `dh_installtmpfiles` * `dh_installsystemd` * `dh_installsystemduser` **(!)** * `dh_installmenu` **(!)** * `dh_installmime` * `dh_installmodules` * `dh_installlogcheck` * `dh_installlogrotate` * `dh_installpam` * `dh_installppp` * `dh_installudev` **(!)** * `dh_installgsettings` * `dh_installinitramfs` * `dh_installalternatives` * `dh_bugfiles` * `dh_ucf` **(!)** * `dh_lintian` * `dh_icons` * `dh_perl` * `dh_usrlocal` **(!)** * `dh_links` * `dh_installwm` **(!)** * `dh_installxfonts` * `dh_strip_nondeterminism` * `dh_compress` * `dh_fixperms` * `dh_dwz` * `dh_strip` * `dh_makeshlibs` * `dh_shlibdeps` * `dh_missing` * `dh_installdeb` * `dh_gencontrol` * `dh_md5sums` As mentioned, `debputy migrate-from-dh --no-act` will detect these completely unsupported tools via existence of their config files or indirectly debhelper hook targets for these tools where possible. However, some tools may only be detected late into the build (which is the case with `dh_usrlocal` as a concrete example). ### Review and migrate any installation code from `dh_install`, `dh_installdocs`, etc. (if any) _This is section does **not** apply to the `dh-sequence-zz-debputy-rrr` integration mode._ All code in `debian/rules` that involves copying or moving files into packages or around in packages must be moved to the manifest's `installations` section. The migration tool will attempt to auto-migrate any rules from `debian/install` (etc.). However, be aware of: 1) The migration tool assumes none of install rules overlap. Most packages do not have overlapping install rules as it tends to lead to file conflicts. If the install rules overlap, `debputy` will detect it at *runtime* (not migration time) and stop with an error. In that case, you will have to tweak the migrated rules manually. 2) Any hook target that copies or moves files around in packages must be moved to `installations` (per source) or `transformations` (per package) depending on the case. - For source packages installing content via `debian/tmp`, you can use `install` to rename paths as you install them and `discard` (under `installations`) to ignore paths that should not be installed. - For source packages installing content via `debian/`, then everything in there is "auto-installed". If you need to tweak that content, you can use `remove` or `move` transformations (under `transformations`) for manipulation the content. Keep in mind that the migrator "blindly" appends new rules to the bottom of `installations` if you have any existing rules (per "none of the install rules overlap"-logic mentioned above). If you cannot convert all debhelper config files in one go, or you manually created some installation rules before running the migrator, you may need to manually re-order the generated installation rules to avoid conflicts due to inadequate ordering. You probably want to do so any way for readability/grouping purposes. Note: For very complex hook targets that manipulate context in packages, it is possible to keep the logic in `debian/rules` by moving the logic to `execute_after_dh_auto_install`. This will mainly be useful if you are using complex rules for pruning or moving around files in a way that are not easily representable via globs. #### Double-check the `language` settings on all `install-man` rules in `installations` _This is section does **not** apply to the `dh-sequence-zz-debputy-rrr` integration mode._ The `dh_installman` tool auto-detects the language for man pages via two different methods: 1) By path name (Does the installation path look like `man//man
/...`?) 2) By basename (Does the basename look like `foo..
`?) Both methods are used in order with first match being the method of choice. Unfortunately, the second method is prune to false-positives. Does `foo.pl.1` mean a Polish translation of `foo.1` or is it the man page for a Perl script called `foo.pl` (similar happens for other languages/file extensions). To avoid this issue, `debputy` uses 1) by default and only that. Option 2) can be chosen by setting `language: derive-from-basename` on the concrete installation rule. The problem is that the migration tool has to guess, and it is hard to tell if rules like `man/*.1` would need option 2). Therefore, take a critical look at the generated `install-man` rules and the generated `language` property (or lack thereof). ### Convert your overrides or excludes for `dh_fixperms` (if any) The `debputy` tool will normalize permissions like `dh_fixperms` during package build. If you have any special requirements that `dh_fixperms` did not solve for you, you will have to tell `debputy` about them. If you had something like: override_dh_fixperms: dh_fixperms -X bin/sudo and the goal was to have `dh_fixperms` not touch the mode but the ownership (root:root) was fine, you would have the manifest `debian/debputy.manifest`: manifest-version: "0.1" packages: foo: transformations: - path-metadata: path: usr/bin/sudo mode: "04755" Note you have to spell out the desired mode for this file. On the other hand, if your `debian/rules` had something like: execute_after_dh_fixperms: chown www-data:www-data debian/foo/var/lib/something-owned-by-www-data Then the manifest would look something like: manifest-version: "0.1" packages: foo: transformations: - path-metadata: path: var/lib/something-owned-by-www-data owner: www-data group: www-data This can be combined with an explicit `mode: "02755"` if you also need a non-default mode. The paths provided here support substitution variables (`usr/lib/{{DEB_HOST_MULTIARCH}}/...`) and some _limited_ glob support (`usr/bin/sudo*`). _Remember to merge your manifest with previous steps rather than replacing it!_ Note that `debputy migrate-from-dh` will merge its changes into existing manifests and can safely be re-run after adding/writing this base manifest. ### Convert your overrides for `dh_installsystemd`, `dh_installinit` (if any) If your package overrides any of the service related helpers, the following use-cases have a trivial known solution: * Use of `--name` * Use of `name.service` (etc.) with `dh_installsystemd` * Use of `--no-start`, `--no-enable`, or similar options * Any combination of the above. Dealing with `--name` is generally depends on "why" it is used. If it is about having the helper pick up `debian/pkg.NAME.service` (etc.), then the `--name` can be dropped. This is because `debputy` automatically resolves the `NAME` without this option. For uses that involve `--no-start`, `--no-enable`, etc., you will have to add a `services` section to the package manifest. As an example: override_dh_installinit: dh_installinit --name foo --no-start override_dh_installsystemd: dh_installsystemd foo.service --no-start Would become: manifest-version: "0.1" packages: foo: services: - service: foo enable-on-install: false If `sysvinit` and `systemd` should use different options, then you could do something like: manifest-version: "0.1" packages: foo: services: # In systemd, the service is reloaded, but for sysvinit we use the "stop in preinst, upgrade than start" # approach. - service: foo on-upgrade: reload service-manager: systemd - service: foo on-upgrade: stop-then-start service-manager: sysvinit ### Convert your overrides for `dh_gencontrol` (if any) If the package uses an override to choose a custom version for a binary package, then it is possible in `debputy` by using the `binary-version` key under the package. Here is an example to force the package `foo` to have epoch `1`: manifest-version: "0.1" packages: foo: # The foo package needs a different epoch because we took it over from a different # source package with higher epoch version binary-version: '1:{{DEB_VERSION_UPSTREAM_REVISION}}' Useful if the source took over a binary package from a different source and that binary had a higher epoch version. Note that only limited manipulation of the version is supported, since your options are generally limited to expanding one of the following version related variables: * `DEB_VERSION` - same definition as the one from `/usr/share/dpkg/pkg-info.mk` (from `dpkg`) * `DEB_VERSION_EPOCH_UPSTREAM` - ditto * `DEB_VERSION_UPSTREAM_REVISION` - ditto * `DEB_VERSION_UPSTREAM` - ditto If the override is needed for dynamic substitution variables or binary versions that cannot be done with the above substitutions, then it might be better to hold off on the conversion. _Remember to merge your manifest with previous steps rather than replacing it!_ Note that `debputy migrate-from-dh` will merge its changes into existing manifests and can safely be re-run after adding/writing this base manifest. ## Step 4: Verify the build At this stage, if there are no errors in your previous steps, you should be able to build your changed package with `debputy`. We recommend that you take time to verify this. For some packages, there was no conversion to do in the previous steps, and you would not even need a manifest at all in this case. However, we still recommend that you verify the build is successful here and now. The `debputy` supports bit-for-bit reproducibility in its output. However, the output is not bit-for-bit reproducible with `debhelper`. You are recommended to use `diffoscope` to compare the `debhelper` built-version with the `debputy` built version to confirm that all the changes are benign. However, `debputy` is bit-for-bit reproducible in its output with `(fakeroot) dpkg-deb -b`. Should you spot a difference where `debputy` does not produce bit-for-bit identical results with `dpkg-deb` (tar format, file ordering, etc.), then please file a bug against `debputy` with a reproducing test case. Once you have verified your built, the conversion is done. :) At this point, you can consider looking at other features that `debputy` supports that might be useful to you. [how-to guide]: https://documentation.divio.com/how-to-guides/ [#885580]: https://bugs.debian.org/885580 [#934499]: https://bugs.debian.org/934499 [debputy issue tracker]: https://salsa.debian.org/debian/debputy/-/issues