# Debian Source Packages Scraper (`parseforge/debian-packages-scraper`) Actor

Scrapes Debian source packages by name or keyword and returns each package as a flat row with version, suite, summary, and canonical link.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/parseforge/debian-packages-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ParseForge](https://apify.com/parseforge) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools, Automation, Other
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $19.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

[![ParseForge](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ParseForge/apify-assets/main/banner.jpg)](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp)

### Debian Source Packages Scraper

**Scrape Debian source packages by name or keyword, up to a million per run.** Every package comes with its version, suite, summary, and canonical link. No login or API key. Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML.

Debian's package archive is huge, and the official search interface is built for humans, not for bulk analysis. This Actor reads the public source package index directly, filters by your search term, and returns each match in one fixed schema. It is the fastest way to turn a package name like nginx or python3 into a clean dataset.

| Who uses it | What they scrape Debian Packages for |
|---|---|
| DevOps engineers | Which versions of a package exist across Debian suites |
| Security researchers | Which source packages match a CVE-affected name |
| Software auditors | Which packages are available for a given keyword |
| Data analysts | Which package metadata to join with other datasets |

### What it does

This Actor collects Debian source packages by name or keyword and returns each one as a flat row.

- 🔍 **Keyword search:** type a package name or a partial term, and the Actor returns every source package that matches.
- 📦 **Bulk collection:** set a maximum up to 1,000,000 packages per run, so one search can cover the whole archive.
- 🧾 **Flat rows:** each package is returned as a single record with its name, version, suite, summary, and canonical link.
- 📤 **Multiple exports:** download the result as CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML from the Apify dataset.

Results export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, or straight from the API.

### What you can do with Debian Packages data

**🔎 Audit package availability.**

A DevOps engineer searches for nginx and gets every source package across suites, then compares versions before an upgrade.

**🛡️ Map CVE-affected packages.**

A security researcher searches for a library name from a CVE report and collects all matching source packages for triage.

**📊 Build a package inventory.**

A data analyst runs a broad keyword like python and exports the full result set to CSV for a compliance spreadsheet.

**🔗 Collect canonical links.**

A software auditor scrapes package metadata and uses the canonical URLs to open each official page for manual review.

### Why choose this scraper

| | What you get |
|---|---|
| **No API key** | The Actor reads the public Debian package index, so you do not need to register or authenticate. |
| **One fixed schema** | Every package comes back with the same fields, so you can merge runs without cleaning. |
| **Up to a million rows** | One run can collect the full result set for a broad keyword like python or lib. |
| **Canonical links** | Each row includes the official package page URL, ready for follow-up scraping or citation. |

### How it compares

This Actor and the Debian Packages Scraper - APT Package Search both read the Debian package index, but this one focuses on source packages and bulk collection.

| Feature | ParseForge | Debian Packages Scraper - APT Package Search |
|---|---|---|
| Source package records | Yes | Not listed |
| Bulk collection up to 1,000,000 packages | Yes | Not listed |
| Canonical package links | Yes | Yes |
| Package summaries | Yes | Yes |
| Available releases | Yes | Yes |
| Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, XML | Yes | Not listed |

### Configure the run

Drive the Actor with a single search term, and set a maximum number of packages to collect per run. The Input tab lists every parameter.

A first run with the defaults:

```json
{
 "searchQuery": "nginx",
 "maxItems": 10
}
```

A larger pull:

```json
{
 "searchQuery": "nginx",
 "maxItems": 200
}
```

### Pricing

Pay-per-result: **$0.021 per result** collected. You pay only for the results written to your dataset.

| Results collected | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 100 results | $2.10 |
| 1,000 results | $21.00 |
| 10,000 results | $210.00 |

New Apify accounts start with $5 in free credit.

### Free users

Free-plan runs return up to 10 results as a preview. [Upgrade your Apify plan](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp) to collect up to 1,000,000 results per run.

### Run it

1. [Create a free Apify account with $5 in credit](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp).
2. Open the [Debian Source Packages Scraper](https://apify.com/parseforge/debian-packages-scraper?fpr=vmoqkp).
3. Set your inputs and any filters, then click **Start**.
4. Export the results as CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML from the **Dataset** tab.

Run it programmatically through the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) (`run-sync-get-dataset-items`) or the [ApifyClient](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js) for JavaScript and Python.

### Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give an AI agent live access to Debian Packages through the Model Context Protocol. Add the Actor to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=parseforge/debian-packages-scraper"
```

Then prompt it in plain language to run the scraper and read back the results.

### Troubleshooting

**Why am I getting no results?**

Check that your searchQuery is spelled correctly and is not too specific. Try a shorter keyword or a known package name like nginx.

**Why did the run stop before reaching maxItems?**

The Actor stops when there are no more matching packages in the Debian index. Lower maxItems or broaden your search term.

**Why is the run taking a long time?**

A very broad keyword can match thousands of packages. Reduce maxItems or use a more specific search term.

**Why are some fields empty in the output?**

Not every Debian source package has every metadata field. Empty fields mean the Debian index did not provide that value for that package.

**Can I search for multiple keywords at once?**

No, the Actor accepts one searchQuery per run. Run it multiple times with different keywords and merge the datasets.

### FAQ

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is a Debian source package? | A source package is the original code plus packaging metadata that Debian uses to build binary packages. This Actor returns source package records from the Debian archive. |
| Can I search for a partial package name? | Yes. The searchQuery field accepts any keyword, and the Actor returns every source package whose name or metadata matches that term. |
| How many packages can I collect in one run? | You can set maxItems from 1 up to 1,000,000. The Actor stops after collecting that many matching packages. |
| Do I need a Debian account or API key? | No. The Actor reads the public Debian package index, so no authentication is required. |
| What fields does each package row contain? | Each row includes the package name, version, suite, summary, and canonical link, plus any other fields returned by the Debian index. |
| Can I export the results to Excel? | Yes. The Apify dataset can be exported to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML. |
| Does this Actor scrape binary packages too? | No, it returns source packages only. Binary package data is not included. |
| Which Debian suites are covered? | The Actor returns packages from all suites present in the Debian source package index, such as stable, testing, and unstable. |
| Can I schedule this Actor to run daily? | Yes. You can set up a schedule in Apify to run the Actor automatically and receive updated package data. |
| Is there a limit on how often I can run it? | No fixed limit. You can run the Actor as often as you need, subject to your Apify plan. |

### Related actors

Browse the full [ParseForge collection](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp) for more scrapers.

🆘 **Need help?** Email parseforge@protonmail.com with your run ID, your input, and what you expected.

⚠️ **Disclaimer.** This Actor is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Debian Project. It collects only publicly available data. You are responsible for using the collected data in compliance with the source's terms of service and applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Do not use it to collect personal data unlawfully.

# Actor input Schema

## `searchQuery` (type: `string`):

Required. The term to search for in the Debian source package archive (for example nginx, python3, ffmpeg).

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

How many packages to collect per run.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "searchQuery": "nginx",
  "maxItems": 10
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "searchQuery": "nginx",
    "maxItems": 10
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("parseforge/debian-packages-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "searchQuery": "nginx",
    "maxItems": 10,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("parseforge/debian-packages-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "searchQuery": "nginx",
  "maxItems": 10
}' |
apify call parseforge/debian-packages-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,parseforge/debian-packages-scraper"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/fB9kgT29kwiZt5cLc/builds/eA9JtQTf0lmZ64EME/openapi.json