Need very basics docs

[David Henningsson]

Lakshmanan wrote:
> When they talk about source, I don't know whether it refers to upstream
> author source or the source package (deb,dsc,diff). Also I could not get
> the basics of exactly what these repos are for, packaging, building
> etc., All I know is I can download a deb of a program and install it in
> a system. 

A source package is made up of one .orig.tar.gz, one .diff.gz and one
.dsc. A binary package is a .deb.

> I was reading the debian new maintainers guide
> http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/maint-guide/index.en.html#contents .
> Is it ok if I read this doc instead of ubuntu packaging guide ? Are
> there very big differences better debian docs and ubuntu docs ?

The new maintainer's guide works well with Ubuntu. One thing that it
does not talk about is patch systems.

Packaging is complex and there is much to learn before you understand it
completely. Good luck, and ask here (or on IRC) if you get stuck!

// David