A while back I started an Ant task that can be used to create Debian deb packages: ant-deb-task.
With ant-deb-task you can create deb packages on any platform where Java is available, not only on a Debian system. Also, being an Ant task, it makes it easy to add this to your build scripts and package your application.
There are many good Java based desktop applications out there that are not properly packaged for Linux. Normally you get a .tar.gz file that you have to expand and put somewhere, maybe you can run some installation script, but there is no integration with the native package management system (apt).
Another thing that many of these Java desktop applications are missing, even when an installer is provided, is an easy integration with the menu system. On Linux this is done using .desktop files placed at special locations and ant-deb-task also provides a task that can help you create these files. You can then package them inside the deb file.
On the download page you will find a few sample applications that have been packaged with ant-deb-task. And while all this apps are Java based, you can certainly use this to create packages with any content, like scripts, utilities, documentation etc.
So, checkout the documentation, browse the source code, report problems, and if you think it makes sense, add ant-deb-task to your project.
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1 comment
Thank you so much for your work. I have been looking for a up to date ant module to do deb packaging of java programs for a while now and this looks like the only one up to cut. I'll start using it for our beta crew the coming week and if you want regular feedback just send me a mail. I'd love to keep the dialog open if I run in to any problems or find any bugs.
/Jonas
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