ebuild

Gentoo package build interface

TLDR

Run the whole build and install in one go

$ ebuild [path/to/package.ebuild] merge

Only download the source archives

$ ebuild [path/to/package.ebuild] fetch

Regenerate the Manifest, which a local overlay needs after any edit

$ ebuild [path/to/package.ebuild] manifest

Skip the Manifest check while testing a work-in-progress ebuild

$ ebuild --skip-manifest [path/to/package.ebuild] compile

Unpack the sources and apply patches and prepare steps

$ ebuild [path/to/package.ebuild] prepare

Run the package's configure phase

$ ebuild [path/to/package.ebuild] configure

Run the upstream test suite

$ ebuild [path/to/package.ebuild] test

Build a binary package without merging it

$ ebuild [path/to/package.ebuild] package

Merge the staged image into the live filesystem

$ ebuild [path/to/package.ebuild] qmerge

Uninstall the package again

$ ebuild [path/to/package.ebuild] unmerge

Delete the temporary build tree

$ ebuild [path/to/package.ebuild] clean

Trace a failing phase with debug output

$ ebuild --debug [path/to/package.ebuild] compile

ebuild is a low-level interface to the Gentoo Portage system. It processes ebuild files, which are Bash scripts describing how to build and install packages.The tool provides direct access to individual build phases (fetch, unpack, compile, install, merge), allowing developers to test and debug packages step-by-step. This is essential for package maintainers creating or modifying ebuilds.While emerge is used for normal package management, ebuild gives fine-grained control over the build process. It's particularly useful for testing new packages before adding them to the portage tree or for manually installing custom ebuilds.

PARAMETERS

manifest

Create/update package manifest

clean

Remove temporary build files

fetch

Download source files

unpack

Extract sources

compile

Build the package

install

Install to temp directory

qmerge

Merge to live filesystem

merge

All steps combined

unmerge

Remove from live filesystem

setup

Run pre-build setup phase

prepare

Run source preparation (patches, etc.)

configure

Run configure phase

test

Run package tests

prerm

Execute pre-removal tasks

postrm

Execute post-removal tasks

postinst

Execute post-installation tasks

digest

Create manifest (legacy alias for manifest)

CAVEATS

Gentoo-specific. For normal package management, use emerge. Ebuild files require specific directory structure in portage tree. By default, ebuild executes all phases in order up to the specified one, skipping phases already completed in a previous invocation.

ebuild

Gentoo package build interface

TLDR

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

PARAMETERS

CAVEATS

SEE ALSO