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I'm looking at this debian package

Before installing it, I'm curious about how much information I can get just by analyzing the debian package.

I would love to know exactly what is going to be installed and where.

is this possible?

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2 Answers 2

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If you want this from the commandline, use dpkg-deb:

dpkg-deb --extract some-package.deb /directory/to/unpack

dpkg-deb --control some-package.deb /directory/to/unpack/DEBIAN

This should leave a directory structure similar to what you'd be able to see in gdebi.

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  • but what if it installs to /etc/default? will it be forced to create that in /directory/to/unpack?
    – Blankman
    Feb 3, 2012 at 1:40
  • No, it creates the directories it needs, so in this case /directory/to/unpack/etc will be created. Try it, it's harmless! Just don't point it at your root, i.e. don't dpkg-deb --extract pack.deb /
    – roadmr
    Feb 3, 2012 at 2:10
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Yes this is very possible.

Install Gdebi

sudo apt-get install gdebi

gdebi screenshot

Open Gdebi, then open the Debian package from File > Open.

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  • would this work from the command line?
    – Blankman
    Feb 2, 2012 at 2:35
  • @Blankman: no, sorry.
    – RolandiXor
    Feb 2, 2012 at 3:48

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