How do I see the changelog for a debian/ubuntu deb package?

Question

I'm running Ubuntu and I have a deb file installed. I've made deb packages before, so I know there is a debian changelog (debchange). Is there anyway to see the debian changelog for any package that I have installed? Assume I don't have access to the deb source file for this package, and I don't have the deb file available. I am able to install extra packages if needed.

to see changes for `apt-get` installed packages: `apt-get changelog ` — jfs, Apr 11 '13 at 13:01
@gipi: `apt-get changelog apt | grep -C5 'apt-get changelog'` shows that this command is introduced in `apt (0.8.9ubuntu1) natty` (2010). You can get the source (it is open-source after all): run `apt-get source apt` and find `cmdline/apt-get.cc` file and look at `DoChangelog()` function (btw, look at `DoMoo()` function). — jfs, Nov 10 '13 at 12:06
strange, I have the (debian) apt 0.9.12.1 and this command is not available. — gipi, Nov 10 '13 at 17:16
I know the question is old, but it would be nice if you accept an answer. — PhoneixS, Aug 19 '20 at 09:54

score 41 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 19 '16 at 11:27

41

Alternatively if the deb is also in the repository and you want to know older versions changelog, you can use apt-get changelog package to read all the changelog. For example for openssl:

apt-get changelog libssl1.0.0

answered Jan 19 '16 at 11:27

PhoneixS

536
5
7

This is definitely the relevant answer for 2016 in both Debian Jessie and Ubuntu :) – Dmitri DB Aug 11 '16 at 06:16
This is the correct answer. – Teekin Dec 09 '17 at 17:57

score 15 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 29 '17 at 07:09

15

apt-listchanges is a nice package to have around, but without having a deb file around your best bet most probably is to read the Debian changelog from /usr/share/doc/somepackage/changelog.Debian.gz.

Create a shell function with:

function debchanglog () {
  zless "/usr/share/doc/$1/changelog.Debian.gz"
}

edited Aug 29 '17 at 07:09

Urda

509
4
16

answered Aug 26 '10 at 10:41

Janne Pikkarainen

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4
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As the OP alluded to, `debchange` is actually an existing tool in **devscripts** used for *creating* changelog entries. So I'd strongly recommend choosing another name. Also, `$0` will probably not do what you're expecting. In my case, it will always execute `zless /usr/share/doc/bash/changelog.Debian.gz`. In your case, replace `bash` with the name of the shell or script you are executing it from. – Six Oct 03 '15 at 05:40

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 03 '22 at 19:38

In Ubuntu 18.04+, the modern version of apt can do this (as opposed to apt-get):

ubuntu18-04:~% apt changelog nginx
nginx (1.14.0-0ubuntu1.9) bionic-security; urgency=medium

  * SECURITY UPDATE: DNS Resolver issues
    - debian/patches/CVE-2021-23017-1.patch: fixed off-by-one write in
      src/core/ngx_resolver.c.
    - debian/patches/CVE-2021-23017-2.patch: fixed off-by-one read in
      src/core/ngx_resolver.c.
    - CVE-2021-23017
...

score 2 · Answer 4 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:14

To extend on Janne Pikkarainen's answer, here is an alias that can be used to read the changelog.Debian.gz for any given package:

alias changelog="xargs -I% -- zless /usr/share/doc/%/changelog.Debian.gz <<<"

It can be used like so:

changelog PACKAGE

Please note however that this is a terribly hackish solution and is not recommended under most circumstances. A function or standalone script is a much better solution.

Here is a function that reads all available changelogs for PACKAGE:

changelog(){
    if (( $# != 1 )); then
        echo "Usage: ${FUNCNAME[0]} PACKAGE"
        return 1
    fi

    find -L "/usr/share/doc/$1" -type f -name 'changelog*.gz' -exec zless {} \; 2>/dev/null
}

Here is a function that prints a list of all available changelogs for PACKAGE and queries the user to select which one to read:

changelog(){
    if (( $# != 1 )); then
        echo "Usage: ${FUNCNAME[0]} PACKAGE"
        return 1
    fi

    local changelog changelogs

    readarray -t changelogs < <(find -L "/usr/share/doc/$1" -type f -name 'changelog*.gz' 2>/dev/null)

    if (( ${#changelogs[@]} == 0 )); then
        return 0
    elif (( ${#changelogs[@]} == 1 )); then
        zless "${changelogs[0]}"
        return $?
    fi

    select changelog in "${changelogs[@]}" EXIT; do
        case $changelog in
            '')
                echo "ERROR: Invalid selection" >&2
                continue
                ;;
            EXIT)
                return 0
                ;;
            *)
                zless "$changelog"
                return $?
                ;;
        esac            
    done
}

How do I see the changelog for a debian/ubuntu deb package?

4 Answers4