Package Converter is a GUI Frontend for Alien written using Real basic. Alien is a program which is used to convert between Red Hat rpm, Debian deb, Stampede slp, Slackware tgz, and Solaris pkg file formats. If you want to use a package from another Linux distribution than the one you have installed on your system, you can use alien to convert it to your preferred package format and install it. It also supports LSB packages.

Install package Converter On Ubuntu/Linux Mint

Upubuntu team has developed a PPA to make it easier to install Package Converter on Ubuntu 13.04/12.10/12.04/11.10 and Linux Mint 14/13/12.

Add Package Converter PPA with command:

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:upubuntu-com/ppa

Update packages list:

$ sudo apt-get update

If you are using 64bit system, install the following prerequisite.

$ sudo apt-get install ia32-libs-gtk

Now install Package Converter using the following command.

$ sudo apt-get install package-converter

Launch Package Converter

Open package converter either from the Dash or Menu. The default interface will look like below.

Convert DEB file to RPM file

Converting between rpm and deb files using package converter is easier than using Alien. Add the by clicking on the (+) sign and select the output location by clicking on the (–) sign to save the file. Then select the output format to be converted from the Package Type drop-down box. Finally click on the green Gear button to start converting! That’s it. Now you’ll able to convert between various distribution packages.