dpkg-distaddfile(1)

📦
version 1.23.11 · 19 versions
, in arch rolling

🌸 dpkg-distaddfile(1) — the dpkg suite's little file-listing bestie 🌸

okay so real talk, this is the manual page for dpkg-distaddfile from the dpkg suite, and it's honestly way less scary than the name makes it sound. it's one tiny tool with one tiny job and it does it flawlessly. let's get into it 💅

✨ NAME ✨

dpkg-distaddfile — literally just adds entries to debian/files. that's it. that's the whole personality. 🎀

🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

dpkg-distaddfile [option...] filename section priority

three arguments, maybe some options, and you're done. slay. ✨

💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

okay so here's the vibe: dpkg-distaddfile adds an entry for a named file to debian/files. it's giving "lowkey but essential" — nobody talks about it, everybody needs it.

it takes three non-option arguments, and you literally cannot skip any of them, bestie:

  1. the filename
  2. the section for the .changes file
  3. the priority for the .changes file

and here's the part people get wrong every single time 😭 — the filename should be specified relative to the directory where dpkg-genchanges will expect to find the files, which is usually ... not a pathname relative to the current directory when dpkg-distaddfile is run. read that again. fr fr. it's the number one gotcha and it eats people alive.

🫶 tiny reminder: .. is the usual answer here, but read the sentence above carefully — it's relative to where dpkg-genchanges looks, not where you are standing.

💅 OPTIONS 💅

  • -ffiles-list-file — read or write the list of files to be uploaded here instead, rather than using debian/files. like a "not me using the default" moment. iconic for when you need a different list. 🦋
  • -?, --help — shows the usage message and dips. instant exit, no drama. ⭐
  • --version — shows the version and exits. main character energy, zero further conversation. 👑

🌈 ENVIRONMENT 🌈

  • DPKG_COLORS — sets the color mode, because aesthetics matter obviously. the currently accepted values are: auto (the default), always and never. supported since dpkg 1.18.5. 🎨
  • DPKG_NLS — if it's set, it gets used to decide whether to activate Native Language Support, also known as internationalization (or i18n) support. accepted values are 0 and 1 (the default). supported since dpkg 1.19.0. 🌍

🍓 FILES 🍓

  • debian/files — the list of generated files which are part of the upload being prepared. and yes, dpkg-distaddfile can be used to add additional files to it, which is literally the entire point of this program. full circle moment. 💫

🔥 SEE ALSO 🔥

💀 and that's the whole page. three args, two env vars, one file, one option with a lowercase f glued to its argument, and a help flag. no cap.

mwah 💋 — this has been the dpkg-distaddfile(1) page, brought to you by the dpkg suite, version 1.23.11-dirty, dated 2026-09-09. go add some files to debian/files and remember: .., not your cwd. iykyk 🧚‍♀️

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