Alien is a
computer program
A computer program is a sequence or set of instructions in a programming language for a computer to execute. Computer programs are one component of software, which also includes documentation and other intangible components.
A computer program ...
that converts between different
Linux package formats, created by Joey Hess and presently maintained by Kyle Barry.
Features
Alien supports conversion between
Linux Standard Base (LSB),
LSB-compliant
.rpm
RPM Package Manager (RPM) (originally Red Hat Package Manager, now a recursive acronym) is a free and open-source package management system. The name RPM refers to the file format and the package manager program itself. RPM was intended primaril ...
packages,
.deb
deb is the format, as well as extension of the software package format for the Debian Linux distribution and its derivatives.
Design
Debian packages are standard Unix ar archives that include two tar archives. One archive holds the cont ...
, Stampede (),
Solaris () and
Slackware
Slackware is a Linux distribution created by Patrick Volkerding in 1993. Originally based on Softlanding Linux System, Slackware has been the basis for many other Linux distributions, most notably the first versions of SUSE Linux distributio ...
(
.tgz
gzip is a file format and a software application used for file compression and decompression. The program was created by Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler as a free software replacement for the compress program used in early Unix systems, and ...
,
.txz
In computing, tar is a computer software utility for collecting many files into one archive file, often referred to as a tarball, for distribution or backup purposes. The name is derived from "tape archive", as it was originally developed ...
, , )
[ Slackware#Package management] packages. It is also capable of automatically installing the generated packages, and can try to convert the installation scripts included in the archive as well. The latter feature should be used with caution since
Linux distributions may vary significantly from one another, and using install scripts automatically converted from an Alien format may break the system.
Usage
A sample usage of ''Alien'':
This will convert to with the , , and scripts from the
Debian package (
deb) into the
RPM
Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, rev/min, r/min, or with the notation min−1) is a unit of rotational speed or rotational frequency for rotating machines.
Standards
ISO 80000-3:2019 defines a unit of rotation as the dimensionl ...
package.
Terminal commands for Alien:
It might require Super User Privileges to run the command. If it does then proceed with the commands below
Similar applications
*
CheckInstall
CheckInstall is a computer program for Unix-like
A Unix-like (sometimes referred to as UN*X or *nix) operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, although not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any ...
, for the source
tarball (i.e.
Gentoo) to
.deb
deb is the format, as well as extension of the software package format for the Debian Linux distribution and its derivatives.
Design
Debian packages are standard Unix ar archives that include two tar archives. One archive holds the cont ...
(Debian).
See also
*
Package management system
A package manager or package-management system is a collection of software tools that automates the process of installing, upgrading, configuring, and removing computer programs for a computer in a consistent manner.
A package manager deals w ...
References
External links
*
*
*
*
*
Debian
Free software programmed in Perl
Free system software
{{Linux-stub