How to create a deb package for a python3 script?

Question

I have one Python file, main.py. I would like to be able to make a .deb package from it, and then be able to run main.py by typing the package name from the terminal. It is written in Python 3, so the package name should run:

python3 main.py

The only dependency I know of is python3.

I have tried creating a deb with a dependency of python3, and then running python3 packagename, but I get:

/usr/bin/python3: can't find '__main__' module in 'packagename'

Trying to use Debreate for package creation fails to open with :

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/debreate", line 12, in <module>
    import wx, sys, os, debreate, db, language, shutil
  File "/usr/share/debreate/debreate.py", line 23, in <module>
    import os, sys, wx.lib.dialogs, db, webbrowser, language, shutil, subprocess
  File "/usr/share/debreate/db.py", line 5, in <module>
    import wx, wx.combo, wx.lib.mixins.listctrl as LC, os, sys, language
ImportError: No module named combo

possible duplicate of How do I create a deb package for a single python script? — Aditya, Jan 03 '14 at 16:10
I also need to be able to run the package from the command line. I tried this already but after installation i get command not found — meecoder, Jan 03 '14 at 16:14
I have left a comment below the post of @andrewsomething to update it for Python 3. In the meantime please [edit] your question to include what you have already tried and what are the results/error that you get. — Aditya, Jan 03 '14 at 16:15
have you tried fpm? FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE: IF FPM IS NOT HELPING YOU MAKE PACKAGES EASILY, THEN THERE IS A BUG IN FPM. — jfs, Mar 10 '14 at 09:10

Sylvain Pineau · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-03T15:51:58.953

Creating a .deb for a python3 script is very simple, and only requires a few changes in debian/rules and debian/control if you're familiar with python2 packaging.

In a nutshell:

Create the package source dir
```
mkdir myscript-0.1
```

Copy your python3 script (or the sample script below) to the source dir

cp ~/myscript myscript-0.1
cd myscript-0.1

Sample script:

#!/usr/bin/python3

if __name__ == '__main__':
    print("Hello world")

Create the packaging skeleton (debian/*)
```
dh_make -s --indep --createorig
```

Remove the example files

rm debian/*.ex debian/*.EX debian/README.*

Edit debian/control

Replace its content with the following text:

Source: myscript
Section: utils
Priority: optional
Maintainer: Name, 
Build-Depends: debhelper (>= 9), python3
Standards-Version: 3.9.5
X-Python3-Version: >= 3.2

Package: myscript
Architecture: all
Depends: ${misc:Depends}, ${python3:Depends}
Description: insert up to 60 chars description
 insert long description, indented with spaces

debian/install must contain the script to install as well as the target directory
```
echo myscript usr/bin > debian/install
```
Edit debian/rules

Replace its content with the following text:
```
#!/usr/bin/make -f

%:
    dh $@ --with=python3
```
Note: it's a TAB before dh $@, not four spaces!
Build the package
```
debuild -us -uc
```

You will get a few Lintian warnings/errors but your package is ready to be used:

../myscript_0.1-1_all.deb

Do you know how to include translations (PO/POT) into the DEB file? I think there's a command needed within debian/rules but I've never been able to figure it out. — Bernmeister, Aug 16 '14 at 00:21
@Bernmeister, Please create a new question about translation support. I'd prefer to keep this one as simple as possible. Thanks — Sylvain Pineau, Aug 26 '14 at 07:41
dh_make: error: argument -i/--indep: not allowed with argument -s/--single — Melroy van den Berg, Sep 23 '20 at 01:41

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 27 '14 at 10:59

0

For the error you encounter in debreate,

sudo apt-get install python-wxgtk2.8

source: source of above solution

answered Aug 27 '14 at 10:59

Sourav Mishra

700

How to create a deb package for a python3 script?

2 Answers2

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