Debian package (`.deb`) after build¶

On Linux, the project configures CPack with the DEB generator so you can produce a Debian package from the same install() rules used for a normal install.

Prerequisites¶

Debian or Ubuntu build host (or compatible) with build dependencies from ci/dependencies/apt-packages-base.txt at the repository root.
CMake 3.25+ and Ninja (the debian workflow includes a package step; see CMakePresets.json at the repository root).

Install prefix¶

The debian configure preset sets CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX from the parent environment ($penv{CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX} in CMakePresets.json). If unset, configure falls back to /usr/local. Override with the environment variable or -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=....

For FHS paths and the /var/lib/zpc install rule in applications/zpc/CMakeLists.txt, set CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr when packaging (see applications/zpc/CMakeLists.txt).

Build and generate the `.deb`¶

Typical sequence (matches CI):

CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr cmake --workflow --preset debian

That performs configure, build, and CPack (package). The workflow’s package step requires CMake 3.25+ and a Linux host (CPack is not enabled on macOS).

Equivalent without the workflow preset:

cmake --preset debian -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr
cmake --build build/debian
cmake --build build/debian --target package

CPack writes the .deb under build/debian/.

Runtime Depends: are set in cmake/include/cpack.cmake (CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_DEPENDS). Override at configure time with -DCPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_DEPENDS='...' if needed.

Cross-compilation¶

When using cmake/arm64_debian.cmake or cmake/armhf_debian.cmake, CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_ARCHITECTURE is preset for the target. Align CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX and sysroot with your cross environment.

macOS¶

CPack Debian packaging is not enabled on Apple hosts (CMakeLists.txt gates the CPack include). The package workflow step will fail there; build the package on Linux or in CI.

CI¶

Debian packaging runs in GitHub Actions on native Linux runners via .github/workflows/zpc-build-linux.yaml. Pull requests run full CI in .github/workflows/zpc-ci.yaml, which calls the Linux build workflow after lint checks. Pushes to main trigger the Linux build workflow directly. Tagged releases (zpc-v*) run .github/workflows/zpc-release.yaml, which calls the Linux build workflow and publishes .deb assets to GitHub Releases. CI produces amd64 and arm64 packages only. Jobs configure with CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr, run CPack, and upload .deb files with actions/upload-artifact (1-day retention). Download packages from the workflow run’s Artifacts panel. Configure needs a repository state where git describe succeeds (see cmake/include/version.cmake).

Debian package (.deb) after build¶