This post will show you how to quickly package any python software for debian or ubuntu.

The magic comes from stdeb

The first step is to install it:

$ sudo apt-get install python-stdeb

stdeb can download, package and install any python software hosted on PyPi using the pypi-install command. It works almost like easy_install or pip.

$ pypi-install Werkzeug

You can check that the package is installed:

$ dpkg -l | grep werkzeug
ii  python-werkzeug    0.6.2-1    The Swiss Army knife of Python web developme

If you want more control on the buildprocess and access the debian source package, you must follow theses steps: First you must find and download the archive of the software you want to package:

# http://pypi.python.org/pypi/Jinja2/2.4.1
$ wget http://pypi.python.org/packages/source/J/Jinja2/Jinja2-2.4.1.tar.gz

Now we will create the debian source package with py2dsc

$ py2dsc Jinja2-2.4.1.tar.gz

The source package is in the deb_dist folder. If you want to build the binary package with debuild:

$ cd deb_dist/jinja2-2.4.1/
$ debuild

You now have python-jinja2_2.4.1-1_all.deb in deb_dist! Happy packaging ;)