RPMDEB

RPMDEB is the name used for a family of tools and workflows that aim to bridge RPM-based and Debian-based packaging ecosystems. It is not a single standardized project, but rather a set of approaches used to port software between distributions that use the RPM Package Manager (.rpm) and those that use Debian Package (.deb) files.

The core goal is to facilitate cross-distribution packaging by translating RPM metadata and packaging scripts into equivalents suitable for DEB-based systems. Components commonly involved include extraction of RPM contents, interpretation of package metadata, mapping of dependencies and scripts, and the assembly of a valid .deb package.

Typical workflows include converting an individual RPM into a .deb, porting entire repositories, or creating hybrid build pipelines that produce Debian-compatible packages from RPM sources. Tools often operate as wrappers around existing utilities such as rpm2cpio, alien, or dpkg-deb, supplemented by custom mapping tables.

Limitations include imperfect mappings between RPM and DEB dependencies, differences in file layout, scripts, and post-install behavior, and potential conflicts with Debian packaging policies. As a result, RPMDEB-based conversions may require manual adjustment and thorough testing before deployment in production environments.

Related concepts and tools include RPM, DEB, Alien, rpm2cpio, and cross-distribution packaging practices. The term RPMDEB has appeared in various projects and discussions as a shorthand for such conversion workflows rather than a single, definitive software package.