debman (with examples)

Debman is a useful command-line tool that allows users to read man pages from uninstalled packages on a Debian-based system. This can be particularly helpful when you need to refer to documentation for a command that is not currently installed on your system or when you want to access man pages from a specific package version. In this article, we will explore eight different use cases of the debman command, along with their corresponding code examples and explanations.

Use Case 1: Read a man page for a command provided by a specified package

One of the primary use cases of debman is to read the man page for a command that is provided by a specific package. To accomplish this, you can use the following command:

debman -p package command

• package: Replace this with the name of the package that provides the desired command.
• command: Replace this with the name of the command whose man page you want to read.

Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to quickly access the man page for a command without installing its corresponding package on your system. It allows you to retrieve important information about command usage, options, and examples.

Example:

debman -p nano nano

In this example, we are using debman to read the man page for the nano command, which is provided by the package with the same name. Running the above command will display the man page for nano on your terminal.

Use Case 2: Specify a package version to download

Another helpful feature of debman is the ability to specify a specific package version for downloading and reading man pages. This can be done using the following command:

debman -p package=version command

• package: Replace this with the name of the package you want to download.
• version: Replace this with the desired package version.
• command: Replace this with the name of the command whose man page you want to read.

Motivation: Being able to specify a package version is valuable when you need to consult the man page for a command as it existed in a particular package version. This can be helpful for troubleshooting issues or understanding changes between different versions.

Example:

debman -p wget=1.20.3-1ubuntu1 wget

In this example, we are using debman to download and read the man page for the wget command from the wget package version 1.20.3-1ubuntu1. The specified package version ensures that we access the desired man page.

Use Case 3: Read a man page in a .deb file

Debman also allows you to read man pages from a specific .deb file. To achieve this, use the following command:

debman -f path/to/filename.deb command

• path/to/filename.deb: Replace this with the path to the .deb file containing the desired man page.
• command: Replace this with the name of the command whose man page you want to read.

Motivation: This use case is beneficial when you have a .deb file and want to access the man page it includes without actually installing the package.

Example:

debman -f ~/Downloads/example.deb example-command

In this example, we are using debman to read the man page for the example-command from the .deb file located at ~/Downloads/example.deb. Running the above command will display the man page contents for example-command on the terminal.

Use Case 4: Read a specific section of a man page

In addition to the previous use cases, debman also supports reading a specific section of a man page. To accomplish this, use the following command:

debman -s section -p package command

• section: Replace this with the desired section number of the man page.
• package: Replace this with the name of the package that provides the desired command.
• command: Replace this with the name of the command whose man page you want to read.

Motivation: Sometimes, you may only need to access a specific section of a man page, such as the SYNOPSIS or OPTIONS section. This use case enables you to focus on the relevant information, making it easier to understand and work with the command.

Example:

debman -s 1 -p git git

In this example, we are using debman to read section 1 of the man page for the git command, which is provided by the git package. The -s 1 argument ensures that only the main description section is displayed.

Use Case 5: Read a man page in a specific language

Debman allows you to specify the language in which you want to read the man page contents. To achieve this, use the following command:

debman -l language -p package command

• language: Replace this with the language code for the desired language. For example, en for English or fr for French.
• package: Replace this with the name of the package that provides the desired command.
• command: Replace this with the name of the command whose man page you want to read.

Motivation: This use case is valuable when you prefer to read man pages in a specific language other than the default language of your system. It allows you to access information in your preferred language, enhancing understanding and usability.

Example:

debman -l fr -p nano nano

In this example, we are using debman to read the man page for the nano command in French language. The -l fr argument ensures that the man page is displayed in French, if available.

Use Case 6: Specify a custom manpath for searching man pages

Debman provides the ability to specify a custom manpath where it should search for man pages. Use the following command to achieve this:

debman -m manpath -p package command

• manpath: Replace this with the path to the custom manpath.
• package: Replace this with the name of the package that provides the desired command.
• command: Replace this with the name of the command whose man page you want to read.

Motivation: Specifying a custom manpath is useful when you have man pages stored in a non-standard location. This use case enables you to read man pages from the specified path instead of the default system locations.

Example:

debman -m /opt/mypackage/man -p mypackage mycommand

In this example, we are using debman to read the man page for the mycommand command, which is provided by the mypackage package. The -m /opt/mypackage/man argument specifies a custom manpath where the man page should be searched.

Use Case 7: List available man pages for a package

Debman also allows you to list the available man pages for a specific package. To accomplish this, use the following command:

debman -l -p package

• package: Replace this with the name of the package for which you want to list the available man pages.

Motivation: Sometimes, you may want to get an overview of all the man pages available for a package before reading them individually. This use case assists in quickly identifying the available documentation for a package.

Example:

debman -l -p nano

In this example, we are using debman to list all the available man pages for the nano package. Running the above command will display a list of man pages associated with the nano package on the terminal.

Use Case 8: Display debman version information

Finally, you can utilize debman to display version information about the command itself. To achieve this, use the following command:

debman --version

Motivation: This use case is helpful when you need to verify the version of debman installed on your system. It provides assurance that you are using the correct version and are aware of any potential feature differences or improvements.

Example:

debman --version

Running the above command will display the version of debman installed on your system, providing information about its release and any additional details associated with that version.

Conclusion

In this article, we explored eight different use cases of the debman command along with their relevant code examples. Debman proves to be a valuable tool for reading man pages from uninstalled packages on a Debian-based system. By applying these use cases, you can easily access and retrieve the necessary information from man pages without needing to install the corresponding packages. Whether it’s reading man pages for specific commands or accessing documentation from specific package versions, debman offers flexibility and convenience for all your man page needs.