Create a Debian (.deb) Package (Hello World)

This is a minimal, real example you can use immediately. We will package one shell script into a .deb and install it with dpkg.

1) Create package folder layout

mkdir -p hello-deb_1.0.0/{DEBIAN,usr/local/bin}

2) Add the Hello World script

Create hello-deb_1.0.0/usr/local/bin/hello-deb:

#!/bin/sh
echo "Hello from my .deb package"

Make it executable:

chmod 755 hello-deb_1.0.0/usr/local/bin/hello-deb

3) Add package metadata (control file)

Create hello-deb_1.0.0/DEBIAN/control:

Package: hello-deb
Version: 1.0.0
Section: utils
Priority: optional
Architecture: all
Maintainer: Your Name <you@example.com>
Description: Minimal hello world package example

Set permissions for metadata:

chmod 755 hello-deb_1.0.0/DEBIAN
chmod 644 hello-deb_1.0.0/DEBIAN/control

4) Build the .deb

dpkg-deb --build hello-deb_1.0.0

Output file:

hello-deb_1.0.0.deb

5) Install and test

sudo dpkg -i hello-deb_1.0.0.deb
hello-deb

Expected output:

Hello from my .deb package

6) Remove package

sudo dpkg -r hello-deb

Quick notes

  • If you update the script, bump Version before rebuilding.
  • Use dpkg-deb -c hello-deb_1.0.0.deb to inspect package contents.
  • This same structure works for real tools, not only Hello World.