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diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4ceebdd --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,105 @@ +Lintian - Static Debian package analysis tool +============================================= + +Lintian is a static analysis tool for finding many bugs, policy +violations and other issues in Debian based packages. It can process +binary Debian packages (.deb), micro/installer packages (.udeb), +Debian source packages (.dsc) and (to a limited degree) the "buildinfo" +and "changes" files. + + +Running Lintian +=============== + +Running Lintian is as simple as invoking + + $ lintian path/to/pkg_version_arch.changes + +Alternatively, you can pass Lintian binary/udeb or dsc files directly +instead of the .changes file. Lintian is designed to work directly +from the source tree (simply use "frontend/lintian" itself). + +For information about command options, please run lintian (or +lintian-info) with "--help". Alternatively, you can also read the +manpages lintian(1) and lintian-info(1). + +Advice / Tips and Tricks +------------------------ + +If there is a tag you are not familiar with, you can use "--info" or +lintian-info to get more information: + + $ lintian-info -t no-version-field + +If you want to enable all tags, simply use the "Evil and pedantic" +mnemonic: + + $ lintian -EvIL +pedantic path/to/pkg_version_arch.changes + +You may want to drop the "-v", which may make Lintian more verbose +than you would like. Also, keep in mind that "-E" enables +"experimental" tags and "-L +pedantic" enables some very pedantic +tags. + +Lintian is not always right! Static analysis involves a trade-off +between "accuracy" and CPU/memory usage. Furthermore, in some cases, +certain packages trigger a corner case where the Debian Policy gives +more leeway than Lintian does. + +If you have installed Lintian via the "lintian" Debian package, you +can find the Lintian User's Manual in: + + $ sensible-browser /usr/share/doc/lintian/lintian.html + # or in txt format + $ zless /usr/share/doc/lintian/lintian.txt.gz + + +Compiling Lintian +================= + +Lintian is written in pure Perl and therefore does not require any +"building" at all. Consequently, Lintian currently does not have a +build system. Instead it relies on its Debian build system +(implemented in debian/rules) and debhelper. Thus, on Debian-based +systems, installing the build dependencies (see debian/control) and +running: + + $ dpkg-buildpackage + +will provide you with a "lintian" Debian package. + +So far there has been little work in providing a stand-alone build +system as Lintian requires a fair share of "Debian specific" tools and +libraries, including the "Dpkg" and "AptPkg" Perl modules. + +We are willing to accept and maintain a stand-alone build system for +Lintian. Where not intrusive, we may also be willing to accept +alternative dependencies for "Debian specific" libraries/tools. + +Developing/Patching Lintian +=========================== + +If you are interested in developing patches for Lintian or just +writing your own Lintian checks, please review +[CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md). + +Feedback +======== + +Please file bugs against the "lintian" package in the Debian Bug +Tracker. We recommend using reportbug(1) for filing bugs, but +in its absence you send a [mail to the BTS][bts-report-bug]. + +Any comments, critics, or suggestions about Lintian or related topics +are highly appreciated by the authors! Please contact +<lintian-maint@debian.org>. Thanks! + +Please note that all data submitted to the Debian Bug Tracker and the +address <lintian-maint@debian.org> will be available to the general +public. Should you be aware of a severe non-disclosed security issue +in Lintian, then please contact the +[Debian Security Team][report-security-issue] instead. + +[bts-report-bug]: https://www.debian.org/Bugs/Reporting + +[report-security-issue]: https://www.debian.org/security/faq#contact |