# man > devscripts.conf(5)

---
type: CommandReference
command: devscripts.conf
mode: man
section: "5"
source: man-pages
---

## Quick Reference
- `~/.devscripts` — per-user configuration file, sourced by devscripts utilities
- `/etc/devscripts.conf` — system-wide defaults
- `--no-conf` — force scripts to ignore configuration (use as first option)
- `DEVSCRIPTS_CHECK_DIRNAME_LEVEL=2` — limit directory search depth for changelog detection
- `DEVSCRIPTS_CHECK_DIRNAME_REGEX="dev/.*"` — restrict directories by regex pattern
- `yes` / `no` — values for simple switch variables (any other value is treated as default)
- `VARIABLE=value` — bash-style assignment; comments start with `#`

## Name
devscripts.conf — configuration file for the devscripts package

## Synopsis
/etc/devscripts.conf
~/.devscripts
Both files are sourced by many devscripts scripts if present. They contain only comments and simple variable assignments. Variables are uppercase and prefixed with the script name (or `DEVSCRIPTS` for package-wide settings).

## Options (Configuration Variables)
- `DEVSCRIPTS_CHECK_DIRNAME_LEVEL`, `DEVSCRIPTS_CHECK_DIRNAME_REGEX` — control directory traversal behavior for scripts that search for `debian/changelog` (e.g., `debc`, `debchange`/`dch`, `debclean`, `debi`, `debrelease`, `debuild`, `uscan`).  
  `_LEVEL` sets the depth limit; `_REGEX` restricts the pattern. Both prevent unintended actions. Other script-specific variables are documented in each script’s man page.

## Examples
shell
# ~/.devscripts – per-user settings
DEVSCRIPTS_CHECK_DIRNAME_LEVEL=2
DEVSCRIPTS_CHECK_DIRNAME_REGEX="dev/.*"

# Force all scripts to ignore configuration files:
some-devscript --no-conf other-args
A full list of available variables with defaults can be found in `/usr/share/doc/devscripts/devscripts.conf.ex`.

## See Also
- [devscripts(1)](http://localhost/phpMan.php/man/devscripts/1/markdown) — overview of the devscripts package
- `/usr/share/doc/devscripts/README.gz` — general documentation