DH_INSTALLDIRS(1)

📦
version 14.5ubuntu1 · 12 versions
, in ubuntu stonking

✨ DH_INSTALLDIRS(1) ✨

okay bestie, so this is dh_installdirs — it lives in the Debhelper fam and honestly? it's the girl who shows up early and makes sure the room is set up before the party. she makes subdirectories in package build directories. that's the whole job. she ate and left no crumbs 🫶

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

dh_installdirs [debhelper options] [-A] [--sourcedir=dir]
[--create-in-sourcedir] [dir ...]

💅 DESCRIPTION 💅

so dh_installdirs is a debhelper program, and her whole thing — her entire main character moment — is creating subdirectories in package build directories. that's it. that's the assignment. 💖

but here's the gag: lots of packages can literally just not call her at all and be totally fine. no cap. the other dh_* commands are expected to create directories as needed on their own, so if you skip her, she's not gonna text you about it. it's giving low maintenance. ✨

🎀 FILES 🎀

  • debian/package.dirs — this file lists directories to be created in package. like, a little to-do list of vibes to manifest.

ngl, generally there's no need to list directories created by the upstream build system, or directories that other debhelper commands already need. she's not trying to do somebody else's homework bestie. 🙈

also!! it supports substitution variables in compat 13 and later, as documented in debhelper(7). so if you're on compat 13+, slay, go off. 👑

⭐ OPTIONS ⭐

  • -A, --all — create any directories specified by command line parameters in ALL packages acted on, not just the first. yes queen, we're doing this for everyone, not just the favorite child. 💅
  • --create-in-sourcedir, --no-create-in-sourcedir — whether to create the specified directories in the source directory (usually debian/tmp) in addition to in the package build directory (usually debian/package). two locations, double the slay. ✨

the default is --no-create-in-sourcedir.

  • --sourcedir=dir — treat dir as the source directory for the packages acted on instead of the default (which is usually debian/tmp). you're picking a different hangout spot, iconic.
okay important bestie: this option is dependent on the --create-in-sourcedir option. when --no-create-in-sourcedir is in effect, this option does nothing in dh_installdirs. literally nothing. she will ignore you. 💀
  • dir ... — create these directories in the package build directory of the first package acted on. (or in ALL of the packages if -A is specified.) the first one gets the gift unless you say -A, iykyk. 🎁

🔥 SEE ALSO 🔥

this program is a part of debhelper. 🧚

👑 AUTHOR 👑

Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org> — the legend, the blueprint, the original. 🌈

and that's the whole page babes 💖 this little number is from debhelper version 14.5ubuntu1, dated 2026-09-21. drink some water, go create a directory, and remember: she's just a program and she loves you. periodt. 🎀🦋🌸⭐💜

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