Installing a .deb package on Arch

Installing a .deb package on Arch - Is it possible?

The problem is simple - I have a .deb package and I want to install it on my Arch Linux. Is this possible? If yes, how?

asked Jul 18 '13 at 19:20

BKC

393136

5

Note that .deb files are just archives that can be uncompressed on any system. Depending on how complex the installation process is, that might be enough to "install" it.
– a CVn
Jul 18 '13 at 20:48

add a comment |

The problem is simple - I have a .deb package and I want to install it on my Arch Linux. Is this possible? If yes, how?

asked Jul 18 '13 at 19:20

BKC

393136

5

Note that .deb files are just archives that can be uncompressed on any system. Depending on how complex the installation process is, that might be enough to "install" it.
– a CVn
Jul 18 '13 at 20:48

add a comment |

The problem is simple - I have a .deb package and I want to install it on my Arch Linux. Is this possible? If yes, how?

asked Jul 18 '13 at 19:20

BKC

393136

The problem is simple - I have a .deb package and I want to install it on my Arch Linux. Is this possible? If yes, how?

debian arch-linux

asked Jul 18 '13 at 19:20

BKC

393136

asked Jul 18 '13 at 19:20

BKC

393136

asked Jul 18 '13 at 19:20

BKC

393136

asked Jul 18 '13 at 19:20

BKC

393136

asked Jul 18 '13 at 19:20

BKC

393136

5

Note that .deb files are just archives that can be uncompressed on any system. Depending on how complex the installation process is, that might be enough to "install" it.
– a CVn
Jul 18 '13 at 20:48

add a comment |

5

Note that .deb files are just archives that can be uncompressed on any system. Depending on how complex the installation process is, that might be enough to "install" it.
– a CVn
Jul 18 '13 at 20:48

Note that .deb files are just archives that can be uncompressed on any system. Depending on how complex the installation process is, that might be enough to "install" it.
– a CVn
Jul 18 '13 at 20:48

add a comment |

4 Answers
4

active

oldest

votes

Is it possible? Yes. Is it a good idea? That depends. You would only really need to do this if the application only exists as a .deb package. It is much more likely that you can just grab the upstream source and write a simple PKGBUILD to install it with pacman.

You should also search the AUR to ensure that someone hasn't done this already.

edited Jul 18 '13 at 20:46

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:56

jasonwryan

49.3k14134184

3

Note, that even if a source package is not provided (or easily accessible), .deb files are easily extracted with libarchive. And, makepkg uses bsdtar (which uses libarchive) by default to extract sources in a PKGBUILD. The result of this dependency chain is that you can easily write PKGBUILDs that make use of .deb archives as source files. :D
– HalosGhost
Jul 27 '14 at 0:42

add a comment |

dpkg for Arch exists. You should be able to install .deb packages on arch, but you should also not use it instead of pacman, so just use it for selected few packages.

The default command looks like:

# dpkg -i package.deb

edited Jul 27 '14 at 0:00

Rufflewind

1125

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:30

superuser0

1,1441719

8

Using an alternate package manager, though an option, is not the correct solution. The correct solution is to write a PKGBUILD to generate a pacman-native package.
– HalosGhost
Jul 27 '14 at 0:26

1

command not found: dpkg
– zygimantus
Jun 22 '17 at 12:51

3

Even if it isn't the correct way to do it, it answers the original question... "Is it possible to install a deb package, and how to do it" is answered a lot better by this answer, than simply saying "write a PKGBUILD to generate a native package", since that is not what the user asks...
– svin83
Feb 10 '18 at 2:06

add a comment |

You can install dpkg by: yaourt dpkg.

If you don't have yaourt, you can get it from its AUR page.

Then just cd to where you put it and dpkg -i package.deb whatever the package may be

edited Aug 21 '16 at 3:15

Czipperz

1156

answered Jun 17 '15 at 8:54

willow

7912

1

The current comment on the AUR package for dpkg states it is out of date and "Don't use it instead of Arch's 'pacman'." Does this mean pacman can now be used to install deb packages?
– gromain
Apr 5 '16 at 7:27

2

@gromain I believe they say that to tell an ignorant user that they shouldn't be using Debian package management in Arch by default -- it should be an exception rather than the rule.
– Czipperz
Aug 21 '16 at 3:00

1

This package is out of date.
– zygimantus
Jun 22 '17 at 12:51

add a comment |

Possible? Yes, but different methods exist on basis of use case.

Assumption: The debian package doesn't have an equivalent package in the Arch (or Arch based Distribution's) official repository.

Install yaourt using pacman:
```
sudo pacman -S yaourt
```

Reason: yaourt is a front-end(CLI-based) for pacman used to query & install AUR packages. In case the debian package has already been repackaged as an AUR by someone else.

Install the package_name using yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S package_name
```

note: replace package_name with the name of the debian package as found in the AUR. It'll attempt to install the dependencies on it's own using pacman.

Alternative

Assumption: The Debian package hasn't been repackaged as an Arch package in AUR yet.

Install debtap from yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S debtap
```

Create equivalent package using debtap:
```
debtap package_name.deb
```

Install using pacman:
```
sudo pacman -U package_name.pkg
```

Not the recommended way (possibly dangerous)

This method attempts to install the package using the debian packaging format on Arch, which is not recommended due to possible danger of corrupting your installation. If using this method it is recommended to be ready with a rescue disc image of Arch & backup of the user data/space.

Install dpkg using yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S dpkg
```

Install the debian package using dpkg:
```
sudo dpkg -i package_name.deb
```

edited Dec 25 '18 at 1:25

answered Jul 22 '18 at 6:22

ToxicMender

5314

add a comment |

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4 Answers
4

active

oldest

votes

4 Answers
4

active

oldest

votes

You should also search the AUR to ensure that someone hasn't done this already.

edited Jul 18 '13 at 20:46

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:56

jasonwryan

49.3k14134184

3

Note, that even if a source package is not provided (or easily accessible), .deb files are easily extracted with libarchive. And, makepkg uses bsdtar (which uses libarchive) by default to extract sources in a PKGBUILD. The result of this dependency chain is that you can easily write PKGBUILDs that make use of .deb archives as source files. :D
– HalosGhost
Jul 27 '14 at 0:42

add a comment |

You should also search the AUR to ensure that someone hasn't done this already.

edited Jul 18 '13 at 20:46

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:56

jasonwryan

49.3k14134184

3

Note, that even if a source package is not provided (or easily accessible), .deb files are easily extracted with libarchive. And, makepkg uses bsdtar (which uses libarchive) by default to extract sources in a PKGBUILD. The result of this dependency chain is that you can easily write PKGBUILDs that make use of .deb archives as source files. :D
– HalosGhost
Jul 27 '14 at 0:42

add a comment |

You should also search the AUR to ensure that someone hasn't done this already.

edited Jul 18 '13 at 20:46

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:56

jasonwryan

49.3k14134184

You should also search the AUR to ensure that someone hasn't done this already.

edited Jul 18 '13 at 20:46

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:56

jasonwryan

49.3k14134184

edited Jul 18 '13 at 20:46

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:56

jasonwryan

49.3k14134184

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:56

jasonwryan

49.3k14134184

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:56

jasonwryan

49.3k14134184

3

Note, that even if a source package is not provided (or easily accessible), .deb files are easily extracted with libarchive. And, makepkg uses bsdtar (which uses libarchive) by default to extract sources in a PKGBUILD. The result of this dependency chain is that you can easily write PKGBUILDs that make use of .deb archives as source files. :D
– HalosGhost
Jul 27 '14 at 0:42

add a comment |

3

Note, that even if a source package is not provided (or easily accessible), .deb files are easily extracted with libarchive. And, makepkg uses bsdtar (which uses libarchive) by default to extract sources in a PKGBUILD. The result of this dependency chain is that you can easily write PKGBUILDs that make use of .deb archives as source files. :D
– HalosGhost
Jul 27 '14 at 0:42

Note, that even if a source package is not provided (or easily accessible), .deb files are easily extracted with libarchive. And, makepkg uses bsdtar (which uses libarchive) by default to extract sources in a PKGBUILD. The result of this dependency chain is that you can easily write PKGBUILDs that make use of .deb archives as source files. :D
– HalosGhost
Jul 27 '14 at 0:42

add a comment |

dpkg for Arch exists. You should be able to install .deb packages on arch, but you should also not use it instead of pacman, so just use it for selected few packages.

The default command looks like:

# dpkg -i package.deb

edited Jul 27 '14 at 0:00

Rufflewind

1125

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:30

superuser0

1,1441719

8

Using an alternate package manager, though an option, is not the correct solution. The correct solution is to write a PKGBUILD to generate a pacman-native package.
– HalosGhost
Jul 27 '14 at 0:26

1

command not found: dpkg
– zygimantus
Jun 22 '17 at 12:51

3

Even if it isn't the correct way to do it, it answers the original question... "Is it possible to install a deb package, and how to do it" is answered a lot better by this answer, than simply saying "write a PKGBUILD to generate a native package", since that is not what the user asks...
– svin83
Feb 10 '18 at 2:06

add a comment |

dpkg for Arch exists. You should be able to install .deb packages on arch, but you should also not use it instead of pacman, so just use it for selected few packages.

The default command looks like:

# dpkg -i package.deb

edited Jul 27 '14 at 0:00

Rufflewind

1125

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:30

superuser0

1,1441719

8

Using an alternate package manager, though an option, is not the correct solution. The correct solution is to write a PKGBUILD to generate a pacman-native package.
– HalosGhost
Jul 27 '14 at 0:26

1

command not found: dpkg
– zygimantus
Jun 22 '17 at 12:51

3

Even if it isn't the correct way to do it, it answers the original question... "Is it possible to install a deb package, and how to do it" is answered a lot better by this answer, than simply saying "write a PKGBUILD to generate a native package", since that is not what the user asks...
– svin83
Feb 10 '18 at 2:06

add a comment |

dpkg for Arch exists. You should be able to install .deb packages on arch, but you should also not use it instead of pacman, so just use it for selected few packages.

The default command looks like:

# dpkg -i package.deb

edited Jul 27 '14 at 0:00

Rufflewind

1125

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:30

superuser0

1,1441719

dpkg for Arch exists. You should be able to install .deb packages on arch, but you should also not use it instead of pacman, so just use it for selected few packages.

The default command looks like:

# dpkg -i package.deb

edited Jul 27 '14 at 0:00

Rufflewind

1125

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:30

superuser0

1,1441719

edited Jul 27 '14 at 0:00

Rufflewind

1125

edited Jul 27 '14 at 0:00

Rufflewind

1125

edited Jul 27 '14 at 0:00

Rufflewind

1125

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:30

superuser0

1,1441719

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:30

superuser0

1,1441719

answered Jul 18 '13 at 19:30

superuser0

1,1441719

8

Using an alternate package manager, though an option, is not the correct solution. The correct solution is to write a PKGBUILD to generate a pacman-native package.
– HalosGhost
Jul 27 '14 at 0:26

1

command not found: dpkg
– zygimantus
Jun 22 '17 at 12:51

3

Even if it isn't the correct way to do it, it answers the original question... "Is it possible to install a deb package, and how to do it" is answered a lot better by this answer, than simply saying "write a PKGBUILD to generate a native package", since that is not what the user asks...
– svin83
Feb 10 '18 at 2:06

add a comment |

8

Using an alternate package manager, though an option, is not the correct solution. The correct solution is to write a PKGBUILD to generate a pacman-native package.
– HalosGhost
Jul 27 '14 at 0:26

1

command not found: dpkg
– zygimantus
Jun 22 '17 at 12:51

3

Even if it isn't the correct way to do it, it answers the original question... "Is it possible to install a deb package, and how to do it" is answered a lot better by this answer, than simply saying "write a PKGBUILD to generate a native package", since that is not what the user asks...
– svin83
Feb 10 '18 at 2:06

Using an alternate package manager, though an option, is not the correct solution. The correct solution is to write a PKGBUILD to generate a pacman-native package.
– HalosGhost
Jul 27 '14 at 0:26

command not found: dpkg
– zygimantus
Jun 22 '17 at 12:51

Even if it isn't the correct way to do it, it answers the original question... "Is it possible to install a deb package, and how to do it" is answered a lot better by this answer, than simply saying "write a PKGBUILD to generate a native package", since that is not what the user asks...
– svin83
Feb 10 '18 at 2:06

add a comment |

You can install dpkg by: yaourt dpkg.

If you don't have yaourt, you can get it from its AUR page.

Then just cd to where you put it and dpkg -i package.deb whatever the package may be

edited Aug 21 '16 at 3:15

Czipperz

1156

answered Jun 17 '15 at 8:54

willow

7912

1

The current comment on the AUR package for dpkg states it is out of date and "Don't use it instead of Arch's 'pacman'." Does this mean pacman can now be used to install deb packages?
– gromain
Apr 5 '16 at 7:27

2

@gromain I believe they say that to tell an ignorant user that they shouldn't be using Debian package management in Arch by default -- it should be an exception rather than the rule.
– Czipperz
Aug 21 '16 at 3:00

1

This package is out of date.
– zygimantus
Jun 22 '17 at 12:51

add a comment |

You can install dpkg by: yaourt dpkg.

If you don't have yaourt, you can get it from its AUR page.

Then just cd to where you put it and dpkg -i package.deb whatever the package may be

edited Aug 21 '16 at 3:15

Czipperz

1156

answered Jun 17 '15 at 8:54

willow

7912

1

The current comment on the AUR package for dpkg states it is out of date and "Don't use it instead of Arch's 'pacman'." Does this mean pacman can now be used to install deb packages?
– gromain
Apr 5 '16 at 7:27

2

@gromain I believe they say that to tell an ignorant user that they shouldn't be using Debian package management in Arch by default -- it should be an exception rather than the rule.
– Czipperz
Aug 21 '16 at 3:00

1

This package is out of date.
– zygimantus
Jun 22 '17 at 12:51

add a comment |

You can install dpkg by: yaourt dpkg.

If you don't have yaourt, you can get it from its AUR page.

Then just cd to where you put it and dpkg -i package.deb whatever the package may be

edited Aug 21 '16 at 3:15

Czipperz

1156

answered Jun 17 '15 at 8:54

willow

7912

You can install dpkg by: yaourt dpkg.

If you don't have yaourt, you can get it from its AUR page.

Then just cd to where you put it and dpkg -i package.deb whatever the package may be

edited Aug 21 '16 at 3:15

Czipperz

1156

answered Jun 17 '15 at 8:54

willow

7912

edited Aug 21 '16 at 3:15

Czipperz

1156

edited Aug 21 '16 at 3:15

Czipperz

1156

edited Aug 21 '16 at 3:15

Czipperz

1156

answered Jun 17 '15 at 8:54

willow

7912

answered Jun 17 '15 at 8:54

willow

7912

answered Jun 17 '15 at 8:54

willow

7912

1

The current comment on the AUR package for dpkg states it is out of date and "Don't use it instead of Arch's 'pacman'." Does this mean pacman can now be used to install deb packages?
– gromain
Apr 5 '16 at 7:27

2

@gromain I believe they say that to tell an ignorant user that they shouldn't be using Debian package management in Arch by default -- it should be an exception rather than the rule.
– Czipperz
Aug 21 '16 at 3:00

1

This package is out of date.
– zygimantus
Jun 22 '17 at 12:51

add a comment |

1

The current comment on the AUR package for dpkg states it is out of date and "Don't use it instead of Arch's 'pacman'." Does this mean pacman can now be used to install deb packages?
– gromain
Apr 5 '16 at 7:27

2

@gromain I believe they say that to tell an ignorant user that they shouldn't be using Debian package management in Arch by default -- it should be an exception rather than the rule.
– Czipperz
Aug 21 '16 at 3:00

1

This package is out of date.
– zygimantus
Jun 22 '17 at 12:51

The current comment on the AUR package for dpkg states it is out of date and "Don't use it instead of Arch's 'pacman'." Does this mean pacman can now be used to install deb packages?
– gromain
Apr 5 '16 at 7:27

@gromain I believe they say that to tell an ignorant user that they shouldn't be using Debian package management in Arch by default -- it should be an exception rather than the rule.
– Czipperz
Aug 21 '16 at 3:00

This package is out of date.
– zygimantus
Jun 22 '17 at 12:51

add a comment |

Possible? Yes, but different methods exist on basis of use case.

Assumption: The debian package doesn't have an equivalent package in the Arch (or Arch based Distribution's) official repository.

Install yaourt using pacman:
```
sudo pacman -S yaourt
```

Reason: yaourt is a front-end(CLI-based) for pacman used to query & install AUR packages. In case the debian package has already been repackaged as an AUR by someone else.

Install the package_name using yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S package_name
```

note: replace package_name with the name of the debian package as found in the AUR. It'll attempt to install the dependencies on it's own using pacman.

Alternative

Assumption: The Debian package hasn't been repackaged as an Arch package in AUR yet.

Install debtap from yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S debtap
```

Create equivalent package using debtap:
```
debtap package_name.deb
```

Install using pacman:
```
sudo pacman -U package_name.pkg
```

Not the recommended way (possibly dangerous)

Install dpkg using yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S dpkg
```

Install the debian package using dpkg:
```
sudo dpkg -i package_name.deb
```

edited Dec 25 '18 at 1:25

answered Jul 22 '18 at 6:22

ToxicMender

5314

add a comment |

Possible? Yes, but different methods exist on basis of use case.

Assumption: The debian package doesn't have an equivalent package in the Arch (or Arch based Distribution's) official repository.

Install yaourt using pacman:
```
sudo pacman -S yaourt
```

Reason: yaourt is a front-end(CLI-based) for pacman used to query & install AUR packages. In case the debian package has already been repackaged as an AUR by someone else.

Install the package_name using yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S package_name
```

note: replace package_name with the name of the debian package as found in the AUR. It'll attempt to install the dependencies on it's own using pacman.

Alternative

Assumption: The Debian package hasn't been repackaged as an Arch package in AUR yet.

Install debtap from yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S debtap
```

Create equivalent package using debtap:
```
debtap package_name.deb
```

Install using pacman:
```
sudo pacman -U package_name.pkg
```

Not the recommended way (possibly dangerous)

Install dpkg using yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S dpkg
```

Install the debian package using dpkg:
```
sudo dpkg -i package_name.deb
```

edited Dec 25 '18 at 1:25

answered Jul 22 '18 at 6:22

ToxicMender

5314

add a comment |

Possible? Yes, but different methods exist on basis of use case.

Assumption: The debian package doesn't have an equivalent package in the Arch (or Arch based Distribution's) official repository.

Install yaourt using pacman:
```
sudo pacman -S yaourt
```

Reason: yaourt is a front-end(CLI-based) for pacman used to query & install AUR packages. In case the debian package has already been repackaged as an AUR by someone else.

Install the package_name using yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S package_name
```

note: replace package_name with the name of the debian package as found in the AUR. It'll attempt to install the dependencies on it's own using pacman.

Alternative

Assumption: The Debian package hasn't been repackaged as an Arch package in AUR yet.

Install debtap from yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S debtap
```

Create equivalent package using debtap:
```
debtap package_name.deb
```

Install using pacman:
```
sudo pacman -U package_name.pkg
```

Not the recommended way (possibly dangerous)

Install dpkg using yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S dpkg
```

Install the debian package using dpkg:
```
sudo dpkg -i package_name.deb
```

edited Dec 25 '18 at 1:25

answered Jul 22 '18 at 6:22

ToxicMender

5314

Possible? Yes, but different methods exist on basis of use case.

Assumption: The debian package doesn't have an equivalent package in the Arch (or Arch based Distribution's) official repository.

Install yaourt using pacman:
```
sudo pacman -S yaourt
```

Reason: yaourt is a front-end(CLI-based) for pacman used to query & install AUR packages. In case the debian package has already been repackaged as an AUR by someone else.

Install the package_name using yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S package_name
```

note: replace package_name with the name of the debian package as found in the AUR. It'll attempt to install the dependencies on it's own using pacman.

Alternative

Assumption: The Debian package hasn't been repackaged as an Arch package in AUR yet.

Install debtap from yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S debtap
```

Create equivalent package using debtap:
```
debtap package_name.deb
```

Install using pacman:
```
sudo pacman -U package_name.pkg
```

Not the recommended way (possibly dangerous)

Install dpkg using yaourt:
```
sudo yaourt -S dpkg
```

Install the debian package using dpkg:
```
sudo dpkg -i package_name.deb
```

edited Dec 25 '18 at 1:25

answered Jul 22 '18 at 6:22

ToxicMender

5314

edited Dec 25 '18 at 1:25

answered Jul 22 '18 at 6:22

ToxicMender

5314

answered Jul 22 '18 at 6:22

ToxicMender

5314

answered Jul 22 '18 at 6:22

ToxicMender

5314

add a comment |

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