Alien is a
computer program
A computer program is a sequence or set of instructions in a programming language for a computer to Execution (computing), execute. It is one component of software, which also includes software documentation, documentation and other intangibl ...
that converts between different
Linux package formats, created by Joey Hess and presently maintained by Kyle Barry.
Features
Alien supports conversion between
Linux Standard Base (LSB),
LSB-compliant
.rpm packages,
.deb, Stampede (),
Solaris
Solaris is the Latin word for sun.
It may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Literature, television and film
* ''Solaris'' (novel), a 1961 science fiction novel by Stanisław Lem
** ''Solaris'' (1968 film), directed by Boris Nirenburg
** ''Sol ...
() and
Slackware
Slackware is a Linux distribution created by Patrick Volkerding in 1993. Originally based on Softlanding Linux System (SLS), Slackware has been the basis for many other Linux distributions, most notably the first versions of SUSE Linux distr ...
(
.tgz,
.txz, , )
[ Slackware#Management] packages. It is also capable of automatically installing the generated packages, and can try to convert the installation scripts included in the archive as well. Automatic installation should be used with caution since
Linux distribution
A Linux distribution, often abbreviated as distro, is an operating system that includes the Linux kernel for its kernel functionality. Although the name does not imply product distribution per se, a distro—if distributed on its own—is oft ...
s may vary significantly from one another, and using install scripts automatically converted from an Alien format may break the system.
Usage
A sample usage of ''Alien'':
This will convert to with the , , and scripts from the
Debian
Debian () is a free and open-source software, free and open source Linux distribution, developed by the Debian Project, which was established by Ian Murdock in August 1993. Debian is one of the oldest operating systems based on the Linux kerne ...
package (
deb) into the
RPM
Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, rev/min, r/min, or r⋅min−1) is a unit of rotational speed (or rotational frequency) for rotating machines.
One revolution per minute is equivalent to hertz.
Standards
ISO 80000-3:2019 def ...
package.
Terminal commands for Alien:
It might require Super User Privileges to run the command. If it does then proceed with the commands below
Similar applications
*
CheckInstall, for the source
tarball (i.e.
Gentoo) to
.deb (Debian).
See also
*
Package management system
A package manager or package management system is a collection of software tools that automates the process of installing, upgrading, configuring, and removing computer programs for a computer in a consistent manner.
A package manager deals wi ...
References
External links
*
*
*
*
*
Debian
Free software programmed in Perl
Free system software
{{Linux-stub