dpkgbuildpackage

dpkg-buildpackage is a command-line tool included with the dpkg-dev package used to build Debian source and binary packages from a debianized source tree. It is typically run from the top-level directory of a source package, which contains a debian/ directory with packaging metadata such as control, rules, and changelog. The tool invokes the package’s build system, usually via the debian/rules makefile, to compile code, assemble binaries, and produce the package artifacts.

The build output is placed in the parent directory of the source tree and can include binary package files (.deb), source package components (tarballs and the .dsc descriptor), and a changes file (.changes) that records the produced packages and their metadata. dpkg-buildpackage supports building either binary packages, source packages, or both, depending on the options used.

Signing and authenticity are supported. If signing is configured, dpkg-buildpackage can sign the changes file and/or the source package with a GnuPG key; options exist to disable signing for scenarios where signing is not desired. Typical usage patterns include building binary packages only (-b), building the source package only (-S), or building both (-sa) while optionally skipping signing (-us -uc).

The tool is a central part of the Debian packaging workflow and is commonly used alongside tools such as debhelper, pbuilder, and sbuild to manage clean build environments and ensure reproducible builds. It relies on the source’s declared build dependencies and environment to produce installable Debian packages suitable for distribution or upload.