Apt/Dpkg
Beyond the basic use of installing programs, apt and dpkg have many features that are useful for packaging.
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apt-cache dump - lists every package in the cache. This command is especially helpful in combination with a grep pipe such as apt-cache dump | grep foo to search for packages whose names or dependencies include "foo".
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apt-cache policy - lists the repositories (main/restricted/universe/multiverse) in which a package exists.
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apt-cache show - displays information about a binary package.
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apt-cache showsrc - displays information about a source package.
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apt-cache rdepends - shows reverse dependencies for a package (which packages require the queried one.
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dpkg -S - lists the binary package to which a particular file belongs.
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dpkg -l - lists currently installed packages. This is similar to apt-cache dump but for installed packages.
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dpkg -c - lists the contents of a binary package. It is useful for ensuring that files are installed to the right places.
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dpkg -f - shows the control file for a binary package. It is useful for ensuring that the dependencies are correct.
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grep-dctrl - searches for specialized information in packages. It is a specific use of the grep package (but not installed by default).
* License
