Package Testing Guide

Quick reference for testing Debian packages built with FPM.

Quick Workflow

# 1. Inspect package
dpkg-deb --info packages/debian-ubuntu/netshare-mounter_1.0.0_all.deb

# 2. Install
sudo dpkg -i packages/debian-ubuntu/netshare-mounter_1.0.0_all.deb

# 3. Test
netshare-mounter --help

# 4. Remove
sudo apt remove netshare-mounter

Essential Commands

Before Installation

Inspect package metadata:

dpkg-deb --info packages/debian-ubuntu/netshare-mounter_1.0.0_all.deb

Shows: name, version, dependencies, maintainer, description

View package contents:

dpkg-deb --contents packages/debian-ubuntu/netshare-mounter_1.0.0_all.deb

Shows: all files that will be installed and their locations

Installation

Install package:

sudo dpkg -i packages/debian-ubuntu/netshare-mounter_1.0.0_all.deb

Fix missing dependencies (if needed):

sudo apt-get install -f

Verify Installation

Check package is installed:

dpkg -l | grep netshare-mounter

Find executable location:

which netshare-mounter

List all installed files:

dpkg -L netshare-mounter

View package info:

dpkg -s netshare-mounter

Test Functionality

Test executable:

netshare-mounter --version
netshare-mounter --help
netshare-mounter mount --help

Test man pages:

man netshare-mounter
man netshare-mounter-mount

Check documentation:

ls /usr/share/doc/netshare-mounter/
cat /usr/share/doc/netshare-mounter/README.md

Uninstallation

Remove package (keeps config files):

sudo apt remove netshare-mounter

Purge package (removes everything):

sudo apt purge netshare-mounter

Verify removal:

which netshare-mounter  # Should return nothing
dpkg -l | grep netshare-mounter  # Should be empty

Complete Test Script

Save as test-package.sh:

#!/bin/bash
set -e

PACKAGE="packages/debian-ubuntu/netshare-mounter_1.0.0_all.deb"

echo "=== Package Testing ==="
echo

echo "1. Installing..."
sudo dpkg -i "$PACKAGE"
sudo apt-get install -f -y

echo "2. Verifying installation..."
which netshare-mounter
dpkg -s netshare-mounter | grep Status

echo "3. Testing functionality..."
netshare-mounter --version
netshare-mounter --help > /dev/null

echo "4. Testing man pages..."
man netshare-mounter > /dev/null 2>&1

echo "5. Listing installed files..."
dpkg -L netshare-mounter

echo
echo "✓ All tests passed!"
echo "To remove: sudo apt remove netshare-mounter"

Make executable and run:

chmod +x test-package.sh
./test-package.sh

Quick One-Liners

# Install and test
sudo dpkg -i packages/debian-ubuntu/netshare-mounter_1.0.0_all.deb && netshare-mounter --help

# Full test cycle (install, test, remove)
sudo dpkg -i packages/debian-ubuntu/netshare-mounter_1.0.0_all.deb && netshare-mounter --version && sudo apt remove netshare-mounter

# Reinstall (useful for testing updates)
sudo apt remove netshare-mounter && sudo dpkg -i packages/debian-ubuntu/netshare-mounter_1.0.0_all.deb

Common Issues

Issue: “dependency problems”

# Fix with apt
sudo apt-get install -f

Issue: “command not found” after install

# Check if installed correctly
which netshare-mounter
dpkg -L netshare-mounter | grep bin

# May need to reload shell or use absolute path
/usr/local/bin/netshare-mounter --help

Issue: “package is already installed”

# Remove old version first
sudo apt remove netshare-mounter
sudo dpkg -i packages/debian-ubuntu/netshare-mounter_1.0.0_all.deb

Issue: “man page not found”

# Check if installed
ls /usr/share/man/man1/netshare-mounter.1

# Update man database
sudo mandb

Testing Checklist

Package metadata is correct (dpkg-deb --info)
Files install to correct locations (dpkg-deb --contents)
Package installs without errors (dpkg -i)
Executable is in PATH (which command)
Command runs and shows help (command --help)
Man pages work (man command)
Documentation installed (ls /usr/share/doc/)
Package removes cleanly (apt remove)
No leftover files after removal

FPM Packaging Guide - How to create packages
dpkg manual - Full dpkg reference