Create Simple Debian Package

Creating debian packages

All major linux system has their own packaging system, Such as rpm for red hat package manager, .deb for Debian systems and there are several more formats. This article deals with the creation of a very simple .deb / Debian package of a python script, this method of debian package also works for java and c scripts , but in case of complex software which need several dependencies this is not suitable.

What is a Debian (.deb) package

A package is the collection of necessary data in specified format which enables the operating system to fetch necessary information about the script/software which you are going to install. This concept is used all the modern day computer Operating systems like windows (.exe ) which is also a package with extension .exe.

SIMPLE PACKAGING OF A PYTHON SCRIPT

1. Create a folder with any name on your home eg: mypyscript.
2. Open the folder and create two folders with names ‘DEBIAN’ and ‘usr’.
3. Open the folder DEBIAN. Create a text file (without extension) with name ‘control’ there.
4. Open ‘control’ and type as follows and save it on DEBIAN
Package: mypyscript
Version: 0.01
Architecture: all
Maintainer: your name<your mail id>
Installed-Size: 2
Depends: python-appindicator
Section: extras
Priority: optional
Homepage: your homepage
Description: describe
5. Back to the folder named mypyscript. Open ‘usr’. Create a folder named ‘bin’. Open ‘bin’ and
paste your pythonscript file there.
6. Back to the home folder where the folder ‘mypyscript’ lies or close the file browser.
Open terminal. Be sure that terminal is in the home folder. type dpkg -b mypyscript .Then
press enter. In seconds your deb package is ready

Note: This is just a simple packaging.