Get Source Code for any Linux Command

Question: How do I get source code of any Linux command?

Answer: For Debian family Linux distributions, you can get source code for any Linux commands using one of the two methods mentioned below.

Method 1: Get Source Code Using apt-get

Step 1: Add a Source URI to sources.lst

$ cat /etc/apt/sources.list
deb-src http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian lenny main

$ apt-get update

Step 2: Execute apt-get source to get the source

For example, to get source code for netstat command, do the following:

Syntax: apt-get source command-name

Example: apt-get source netstat

Method 2: Get Source Code from packages.debian.org

If you are not pretty sure about the package name, you can navigate through the ‘Sections’
page here: http://packages.debian.org/stable/

• Click on the topic of the command you wanted to get the source.
• Search for the command you are looking for, and click on it.
• In the right side bar, you will have a link to download source package.

Example: Download the source code of the vim editor

• Step 1: Go to the listing page of Lenny in packages.debian.org
• Step 2: Click on the link that says ‘editors’
• Step 3: Search and go to the vim editor page
• Step 4: In the right side bar, select and download: vim_7.1.314.orig.tar.gz