Override a package's version of a file in Debian.
The dpkg-divert command is a utility in Debian Linux used to create and manage a list of diversions. Diversions allow you to move a file from its default location, preventing it from being overwritten when a package is installed.
dpkg-divert (options) (parameters)
--add Add a diversion.
--remove Remove a diversion.
--list List diversions matching a pattern.
--truename Display the real name for a diverted file.
--quiet Quiet mode, minimize output.
File: Specifies the file name for the diversion.
Specify that when the package wibble is installed, it should write to /usr/bin/example.foo instead of /usr/bin/example:
dpkg-divert --package wibble --divert /usr/bin/example.foo --rename /usr/bin/example
Remove the diversion for /usr/bin/example associated with the package wibble:
dpkg-divert --package wibble --rename --remove /usr/bin/example
Remove any diversion for /usr/bin/example:
dpkg-divert --rename --remove /usr/bin/example
Add a diversion so that any package trying to install to /usr/bin/example will write to /usr/bin/example.foo instead:
dpkg-divert --divert /usr/bin/example.foo --rename /usr/bin/example