dpkg-deb

Debian archive manipulation tool

TLDR

Display package information

$ dpkg-deb -I [path/to/file.deb]

Display package name and version

$ dpkg-deb -W [path/to/file.deb]

List package contents

$ dpkg-deb -c [path/to/file.deb]

Extract contents to directory

$ dpkg-deb -x [path/to/file.deb] [path/to/directory]

Extract contents and control information

$ dpkg-deb --raw-extract [path/to/file.deb] [path/to/directory]

Build package from directory

$ dpkg-deb -b [path/to/directory]

Show a specific control file field

$ dpkg-deb -f [path/to/file.deb] [field_name]

SYNOPSIS

dpkg-deb action [options] archive|directory

dpkg-deb packs, unpacks, and provides information about Debian archives (.deb files). It's the low-level tool for working directly with the .deb file format without involving the package database.The tool allows you to inspect package contents and metadata before installation, extract files from packages without installing them, or build new .deb archives from properly structured directory trees. Unlike dpkg itself, dpkg-deb operates purely on archive files and doesn't modify the system's package database.Common use cases include examining unfamiliar packages for security auditing, extracting specific files from packages, and building custom .deb packages as part of a development workflow.

PARAMETERS

-I, --info archive

Show package information

-W, --show archive

Show package name and version

-c, --contents archive

List archive contents

-x, --extract archive dir

Extract files to directory

-X, --vextract archive dir

Extract and list files

-e, --control archive [dir]

Extract control information files

-R, --raw-extract archive dir

Extract everything (data and control info)

-f, --field archive [field]

Show control file field values

-b, --build dir [archive]

Build package from directory

INSTALL

sudo apt install dpkg

sudo dnf install dpkg

sudo pacman -S dpkg

sudo apk add dpkg

sudo zypper install dpkg

brew install dpkg

nix profile install nixpkgs#dpkg

CAVEATS

Lower-level than dpkg; use dpkg for installation. Building packages requires proper debian/ directory structure. Part of dpkg package.