debchange
Debian changelog maintenance tool
TLDR
Add a new version for non-maintainer upload
$ debchange -n
Append entry to current version$ debchange -a
Add entry to close a bug$ debchange --closes [bug_id]
SYNOPSIS
debchange [options] [text]
DESCRIPTION
debchange (also known as dch) maintains the debian/changelog file of a Debian source package. It handles version numbering, timestamps, and changelog entry formatting according to Debian policy.Essential for Debian package maintainers to track changes between package versions.
PARAMETERS
-n, --nmu
Increment version for non-maintainer upload-a, --append
Append to current changelog entry--closes bug
Add entry to close specified bug-i, --increment
Increment version and add new entry-v version
Set specific version number-D distribution
Set distribution (stable, unstable, etc.)-r, --release
Finalize the changelog for a release--create
Create a new debian/changelog file
CONFIGURATION
~/.devscripts
Default configuration options for debchange behavior, including maintainer name and email./etc/devscripts.conf
System-wide devscripts configuration file.
CAVEATS
Must be run from a Debian source package directory. Requires proper debian/changelog format. Part of devscripts package.
SEE ALSO
dch(1), dpkg-buildpackage(1), debuild(1)
