NAME

       xapt - convert Debian packages to cross versions on-the-fly

Synopsis

        $ sudo xapt foo bar baz

        $ sudo xapt -M http://ftp.fr.debian.org/debian/ foo bar baz

        $ sudo xapt --clean-cache

Description

       Downloading the Packages files can take a reasonable amount of time, so to grip a number
       of packages, either specify all packages in one command or use the "--keep-cache" option
       for each run and use the "--clean-cache" option at the end.

       Note also that, in common with the rest of Emdebian processing, Install-Recommends is
       always turned off, so if you need a package that is only recommended by packages in the
       list given to "xapt", that package will need to be added to the list explicitly.

Limitations

       Installing any package from repositories outside the normal apt sources (especially if
       those packages are subsequently modified by dpkg-cross) will list those packages as "local
       or obsolete" in package managers.  Converted packages cannot be upgraded without repeating
       the call to "xapt" because "apt-get" does not know about the renaming of the package by
       "dpkg-cross" when downloading the packages. This can cause problems if dependencies of
       such packages need to be upgraded. It is possible that the main system "apt" will try to
       remove these local packages in order to proceed with the main system upgrade.

       The best option is to use "xapt" inside a disposable chroot.

Checking existing cross packages

       "xapt", by default, will not check to see if a particular cross package is already
       installed at a newer or equal version which can cause cross packages to be downgraded. To
       turn on this check, either use the "--check-newer" option or set "checknewer" to true in
       the vendor configuration file in /etc/xapt.d/.

Using SecureApt

       If your apt sources include a repository which does not use SecureApt, disable
       authentication in the vendor configuration file in /etc/xapt.d/ Set noauth=true.

Multiarch behaviour

       By default <dpkg-cross> does nothing with packages from Debian which already support
       Multi-Arch - the package is simply copied to the current work directory, if it does not
       already exist. Any package containing a Multi-Arch: field in DEBIAN/control is skipped in
       this manner.

       "xapt" uses the --multiarch option can pass the --convert-multiarch option down to dpkg-
       cross to instead force the generation of a -<arch>-cross package with the files moved into
       the conventional dpkg-cross locations.

       "xapt" will check for dpkg-cross version 2.6.3 or higher when this option is set and
       report an error (unsetting the option) if a suitable version is not found.

       If you are using apt sources which specify an arch option, the architecture list will need
       to include the architecture you wish to use with "xapt". If you have dpkg (>= 1.16.2)
       installed, then you need to ensure that the requested architecture is listed in your
       foreign dpkg architectures and that you have at least one mirror which can provide
       packages of that architecture.

        dpkg --print-foreign-architectures

Commands

       Commands:
        -c|--clean-cache:        Remove any downloaded cache files and exit.

       Options:
        -b|--build-only:         Get and process the packages, do not install
                                  (implies -k)
        -M|--mirror:             A Debian mirror with the requested package(s)
        -S|--suite:              Which suite to use for the package(s)
        -k|--keep-cache:         Preserve the downloaded cache files to use again.
        -a|--arch ARCHITECTURE:  Specify the architecture to download or install.
           --ignore-status:      Ignore currently installed packages (native)
           --check-newer:        Check if the same or newer version of the cross
                                 package is installed and skip installation.
        -m|--multiarch:          Convert Multi-Arch packages to old dpkg-cross
                                  paths. Requires dpkg-cross (>= %s)

       xapt tidies up after itself by removing all temporary data and packages after
       installation, unless the --keep-cache option is used.  (Converted packages are not
       preserved.)

       The archives will be downloaded into /var/lib/xapt/archives/ before being converted with
       dpkg-cross and installed using dpkg. Using "--build-only" implies "--keep-cache".
       Converted packages are created in /var/lib/xapt/output/