dh-python

Build Python 3 package with debhelper

$ dh_python3

$ dh_python3 --shebang=/usr/bin/python3

$ dh_python3 -p [package-name]

$ dh_python3 --depends

dh_python3 [options]
dh_python2 [options] (deprecated)

dh-python provides debhelper extensions for packaging Python modules and applications in Debian. The main commands are dh_python3 for Python 3 packages and the deprecated dh_python2 for Python 2.
These tools handle Python-specific packaging tasks: byte-compiling modules, generating dependencies from Python metadata, fixing shebangs to use system Python, and creating proper package relationships.
In debian/rules, dh_python3 is typically invoked automatically through the dh sequencer with --with python3. It reads configuration from debian/control and Python metadata files.

-p, --package package

Act on specified package.

Exclude package.

Use specific Python interpreter in shebangs.

Generate dependencies from specified section.

Generate recommends from specified section.

Generate suggests from specified section.

Verbose output.

Pass option to debhelper.

Python 2 support (dh_python2) is deprecated and removed from modern Debian. Multiple Python versions require careful handling. Virtual environments are not directly supported; packages install to system directories. Byte-compilation errors may indicate syntax issues.

dh-python was developed for Debian to replace the older python-support and python-central systems. Created by Piotr Ożarowski around 2012, it provided a cleaner approach to Python packaging as Python 3 became standard. The tool became the standard method for Debian Python packages and is used by Ubuntu and derivatives.

pybuild(1), dh(1), debhelper(7), py3compile(1)