Using "dput" and "mini-dinstall" to create a local Debian package repository

While working on bootstrapping a Debian port, I needed a place to keep a bunch of packages for later cross or native installation.  Even though I happen to have access to the debian-ports mirror for powerpcspe, I still need a place for the cross-compiled or bootstrap packages that are not appropriate for that repository.

So I created a local repository using the "mini-dinstall" command.  Configuration and setup was pretty easy, I just created a "~/.mini-dinstall.conf" file with the following contents.
  [DEFAULT]
  archivedir = /srv/stuff/local-pkgmirror
  mail_to =
  verify_sigs = false
  architectures = all, powerpcspe, amd64
  archive_style = flat
  generate_release = true
  mail_on_success = false
  release_codename = Local
  release_description = Local Packages
  release_label = kmoffett
  release_origin = kmoffett
  release_suite = local


Please note that "/srv/stuff" is just a convenient local partition with lots of free space, you can put the repository anywhere you would like.  I then created a "~/.dput.cf" file (make sure the repository location matches):
  [local]
  fqdn = localhost
  method = local
  incoming = /srv/stuff/local-pkgmirror/mini-dinstall/incoming
  run_dinstall = 0
  post_upload_command = mini-dinstall -b

To get everything created and ready, I ran "mini-dinstall -b" once first, then to "upload" packages into the repository I just run "dput -u local $PACKAGE.changes".  Note that if that command fails you may need to delete the "$PACKAGE.local.upload" file in order to try again.

Cheers,
Kyle Moffett