How to install bsdiff on Ubuntu 17.04

How to install bsdiff on Ubuntu 17.04

The bsdiff is open source utility to generate a patch between two binary files without having to send the entire set of binary data each time the package is updated. It supports the bzip2 for compression. It has the oldfile and newfile, the two versions of an executable program. This tutorial covers the installation procedure of bsdiff on Ubuntu.

Installation program

To start the installation procedure, add the repo by executing the following command.

root@linuxhelp1:~# add-apt-repository ppa:eugenesan/ppa
This repository contains collection of customized, updated, ported and backported
packages for two last LTS releases and latest pre-LTS release.
Packages for older releases relocated to ppa:eugenesan/archive or deleted.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Disclaimer:
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
* Packages in this a nd related PPAs are for personal use only.
  They developed specifically for several custom environments and may not work for you.
* Usage of packages in this PPA, in some forms, might contradict licenses of software
  packaged in this and related PPAs. End users and administrator are responsible for
  runtime licensing and possible legal consequences.
* Some packages provided with their dependencies while some might require additional
  Ubuntu repositories and external PPAs. Below is the list of

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| To add this repository, to your Ubuntu installation, invoke:
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:eugenesan/ppa
.
.
.
gpg: keyring `/tmp/tmp6jp7grtr/secring.gpg'  created
gpg: keyring `/tmp/tmp6jp7grtr/pubring.gpg'  created
gpg: requesting key 8313A596 from hkp server keyserver.ubuntu.com
gpg: /tmp/tmp6jp7grtr/trustdb.gpg: trustdb created
gpg: key 8313A596: public key " Launchpad synergy+"  imported
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg:imported: 1(RSA: 1)
OK

The target machine is installed with the required repository. Now update the repositories by running the apt-get update command.

root@linuxhelp1:~# apt-get update
Hit:1 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial InRelease
Get:2 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security InRelease [102 kB]
Get:3 http://ppa.launchpad.net/eugenesan/ppa/ubuntu xenial InRelease [17.5 kB]
Get:4 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates InRelease [102 kB]
Get:5 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-backports InRelease [102 kB]
Get:6 http://ppa.launchpad.net/eugenesan/ppa/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 Packages [40.6 kB]
Get:7 http://ppa.launchpad.net/eugenesan/ppa/ubuntu xenial/main i386 Packages [40.5 kB]
Get:8 http://ppa.launchpad.net/eugenesan/ppa/ubuntu xenial/main Translation-en [24.7 kB]
Fetched 430 kB in 8s (52.4 kB/s)
Reading package lists... Done

The system is updated with the repositories. Next, install the bsdiff package by executing the following command and press y to continue with the installation process.

root@linuxhelp1:~# apt-get install bsdiff -y
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
bsdiff
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 31 not upgraded.
Need to get 13.2 kB of archives.
After this operation, 49.2 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty/universe amd64 bsdiff amd64 4.3-19 [13.2 kB]
Fetched 13.2 kB in 0s (20.6 kB/s)
Selecting previously unselected package bsdiff.
(Reading database ... 171595 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../bsdiff_4.3-19_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking bsdiff (4.3-19) ...
Setting up bsdiff (4.3-19) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.6.1-2) ...

For using the package, type the bsdiff command and run the command to open the application.

root@linuxhelp1:~# bsdiff
bsdiff: usage: bsdiff oldfile newfile patchfile

To remove the package, execute the remove command and press y to continue with the uninstallation.

root@linuxhelp1:~# apt-get remove bsdiff -y
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
bsdiff
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 31 not upgraded.
After this operation, 49.2 kB disk space will be freed.
(Reading database ... 171603 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing bsdiff (4.3-19) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.6.1-2) ...

Wasn' t that an easy installation procedure? The bsdiff is a memory hog and requires about memory equal to the 17 times the size of oldfile.