Files that contain the extension DEB are associated with multiple programs and applications and various file types. The most common association is the Debian Software Package, but the file extension can also be created as a Debug Script or by Cydia. DEB files contain data and information related to the program that created them.
If the file extension DEB is created by a Debian Software Package, it is a compressed file type which contains data and installer files related to specific software applications used with the Debian operating system. Debian is a UNIX-based operating system which runs on software packages distributed under the GNU General Public License.
DEB files which are used as a Debug Script for MS DOS Debug are source code and script file types which contain code in plain text format. Although MS DOS is an older operating system prior to Windows, it is still used for computer repair. Debug is a command used in DOS for examining the contents of your PC’s memory and making modifications in the event a problem occurs with the operating system.
DEB files associated with Apple iPhone Cydia are a compressed file type that contains installer files for the Cydia application. Cydia is a program which allows you to install other applications on your iPhone after you jailbreak it. The jailbreaking process allows you to install additional applications on your iPhone you would otherwise be unable to, and then Cydia allows you to proceed with installing the applications.
How to Open DEB Files
Since DEB files are associated with multiple programs and applications, double click on the file to see if it will automatically open in a default program you have installed on your PC. DEB files can consist of different file types, so you may already have a program which will open the file.
If DEB files are associated with Debian Software Package and you use Windows, you can open them using a compression utility such as 7-Zip, WinRAR, WinZip, or PeaZip. PeaZip will also open DEB files on a Mac operating system.
If you use Linux, you can open Debian DEB files using the Debian Package Management System or Synaptic Package Manager. You can also use Adept, which is an open source graphical interface for working with package management.
If the DEB file extension is a Debug Script file, you can open this type of DEB file using Notepad or WordPad for Windows, Apple TextEdit for Mac, or gEdit and Nano Editor for Linux.
DEB files created by Cydia must be opened by the Cydia program which uses its own applications. Cydia basically acts as its own App Store offering applications that are downloadable after you jailbreak your iPhone. For this reason, you must open this type of DEB program using Cydia on an iOS device.
