apt-ftparchive

Generate index files for APT repositories.

TLDR

Generate Packages file

$ apt-ftparchive packages [pool/] > [Packages]

Generate Sources file

$ apt-ftparchive sources [pool/] > [Sources]

Generate Release file

$ apt-ftparchive release [dists/stable] > [Release]

Generate with configuration file

$ apt-ftparchive generate [config.conf]

SYNOPSIS

apt-ftparchive [options] command [arguments]

apt-ftparchive generates index files for APT repositories. It creates Packages, Sources, Contents, and Release files from a directory of .deb and .dsc files.This tool is essential for creating and maintaining local APT repositories or mirrors.

PARAMETERS

packages dir

Generate Packages file from directory

sources dir

Generate Sources file

contents dir

Generate Contents file

release dir

Generate Release file

generate config

Generate files per configuration

clean config

Clean up database files

-c file

Configuration file

-d db

Database directory

--md5, --sha1, --sha256, --sha512

Hash algorithms to generate

INSTALL

sudo apt install apt-utils

sudo dnf install apt-utils

sudo pacman -S apt

sudo apk add apt

brew install apt

nix profile install nixpkgs#apt

CAVEATS

Release files should be signed with gpg for secure repositories. Large repositories may take significant time to index. Database caching improves regeneration speed.

HISTORY

apt-ftparchive is part of APT, designed for repository maintainers to create the index files that APT clients use to find and download packages.