help with packaging (preinst scripts)

[David Cho-Lerat <david.lerat@asterion.fr>]

Hi all,

I've done some RTFM, but can't yet find where the helper
scripts to use in maintainer scripts (preinst/postrm/..) are
described.

How does one automate the following in the preinst scripts,
for instance :

1. create a user *and* set their password
2. ssh-keygen with no user input ("Enter passphrase")
3. add/edit some MySQL tables without knowing the MySQL root password

I've fooled around with Expect for 1. and 2., and tried
mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables for 3., but I feel
lame (and I have to have my preinst script stop/start the
MySQL server during install) ..

If I'm not asking the correct list, I'm sorry, but could you please
direct me to the documentation I should read or other mailing list
I should contact ?

Thanks a bunch,
David.