Dpkg::Changelog::Entry::Debian(3perl) libdpkg-perl Dpkg::Changelog::Entry::Debian(3perl)

# [NAME](#NAME)

Dpkg::Changelog::Entry::Debian - represents a Debian changelog entry

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

This class represents a Debian changelog entry. It implements the generic interface Dpkg::Changelog::Entry. Only functions specific to this implementation are described below, the rest are inherited.

# [METHODS](#METHODS)

@items = $entry->**get\_change\_items()**

Return a list of change items. Each item contains at least one line. A change line starting with an asterisk denotes the start of a new item. Any change line like ""\[ Raphaël Hertzog ]"" is treated like an item of its own even if it starts a set of items attributed to this person (the following line necessarily starts a new item).

@errors = $entry->**parse\_header()**

@errors = $entry->**parse\_trailer()**

Return a list of errors. Each item in the list is an error message describing the problem. If the empty list is returned, no errors have been found.

$entry->**normalize()**

Normalize the content. Strip whitespaces at end of lines, use a single empty line to separate each part.

$src = $entry->**get\_source()**

Return the name of the source package associated to the changelog entry.

$ver = $entry->**get\_version()**

Return the version associated to the changelog entry.

@dists = $entry->**get\_distributions()**

Return a list of target distributions for this version.

$ctrl = $entry->**get\_optional\_fields()**

Return a set of optional fields exposed by the changelog entry. It always returns a Dpkg::Control object (possibly empty though).

$urgency = $entry->**get\_urgency()**

Return the urgency of the associated upload.

$maint = $entry->**get\_maintainer()**

Return the string identifying the person who signed this changelog entry.

$time = $entry->**get\_timestamp()**

Return the timestamp of the changelog entry.

$time = $entry->**get\_timepiece()**

Return the timestamp of the changelog entry as a Time::Piece object.

This function might return undef if there was no timestamp.

# [UTILITY FUNCTIONS](#UTILITY_FUNCTIONS)

$bool = match\_header($line)

Checks if the line matches a valid changelog header line.

$bool = match\_trailer($line)

Checks if the line matches a valid changelog trailing line.

@closed\_bugs = find\_closes($changes)

Takes one string as argument and finds "Closes: #123456, #654321" statements as supported by the Debian Archive software in it. Returns all closed bug numbers in an array.

# [CHANGES](#CHANGES)

## [Version 2.00 (dpkg 1.20.0)](#Version_2.00_%28dpkg_1.20.0%29)

Remove methods: $entry->**check\_header()**, $entry->**check\_trailer()**.

Hide variables: $regex\_header, $regex\_trailer.

## [Version 1.03 (dpkg 1.18.8)](#Version_1.03_%28dpkg_1.18.8%29)

New methods: $entry->**get\_timepiece()**.

## [Version 1.02 (dpkg 1.18.5)](#Version_1.02_%28dpkg_1.18.5%29)

New methods: $entry->**parse\_header()**, $entry->**parse\_trailer()**.

Deprecated methods: $entry->**check\_header()**, $entry->**check\_trailer()**.

## [Version 1.01 (dpkg 1.17.2)](#Version_1.01_%28dpkg_1.17.2%29)

New functions: **match\_header()**, **match\_trailer()**

Deprecated variables: $regex\_header, $regex\_trailer

## [Version 1.00 (dpkg 1.15.6)](#Version_1.00_%28dpkg_1.15.6%29)

Mark the module as public.

2026-09-09 1.23.11-dirty

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Document: Dpkg::Changelog::Entry::Debian(3perl) from dpkg 1.23.11-r2 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://git.dpkg.org/git/dpkg/dpkg.git