dch
Debian package changelog editor
TLDR
SYNOPSIS
dch [options] [message]
DESCRIPTION
dch (Debian changelog) is a tool for editing Debian package changelog files (debian/changelog). It automates version incrementing, entry formatting, and maintains the strict changelog format required by Debian packaging.The tool handles the tedious formatting requirements of Debian changelogs, including proper date formats, maintainer information from DEBEMAIL/DEBFULLNAME environment variables, and version string manipulation.dch is essential for Debian package maintainers, automating the changelog workflow during package updates, security fixes, and new upstream releases.
PARAMETERS
MESSAGE
Changelog entry text to add.-i, --increment
Increment version for new upstream release.-v VERSION
Create entry with specific version.-a, --append
Append to current changelog entry.-e, --edit
Open changelog in editor.-D DIST
Set target distribution.-u URGENCY
Set urgency: low, medium, high, emergency, critical.-n, --nmu
Non-maintainer upload increment.-b, --force-bad-version
Allow a version that is lower than the current.-p, --preserve
Preserve directory name for package name.-r, --release
Finalize entry for release (set distribution and timestamp).--create
Create a new changelog file.--help
Display help information.
CAVEATS
Requires properly configured DEBEMAIL and DEBFULLNAME environment variables. Must be run in a directory containing debian/changelog. Version string format must follow Debian conventions.
HISTORY
dch is part of devscripts, a collection of tools for Debian package maintainers. It has been a core Debian development tool since the mid-1990s, evolving alongside Debian's packaging standards.
SEE ALSO
debchange(1), dpkg-buildpackage(1), dpkg(1)
