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.