---
name: "dh_python"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "debhelper"
version: "9.20120909"
release: "Debian 7 (Wheezy)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dh_python"
---

# dh\_python(1)

calculates Python dependencies and adds postinst and prerm Python scripts (deprecated)

## NAME

dh\_python - calculates Python dependencies and adds postinst and prerm Python scripts (deprecated)

## SYNOPSIS

**dh\_python** \[*debhelper options*\] \[**-n**\] \[**-V** *version*\] \[*module dirs* ...\]

## DESCRIPTION

Note: This program is deprecated. You should use **dh\_python2** instead. This program will do nothing if *debian/pycompat* or a **Python-Version** *control* file field exists.

**dh\_python** is a debhelper program that is responsible for generating the **${python:Depends}** substitutions and adding them to substvars files. It will also add a *postinst* and a *prerm* script if required.

The program will look at Python scripts and modules in your package, and will use this information to generate a dependency on **python**, with the current major version, or on **python***X***.***Y* if your scripts or modules need a specific **python** version. The dependency will be substituted into your package's *control* file wherever you place the token **${python:Depends}**.

If some modules need to be byte-compiled at install time, appropriate *postinst* and *prerm* scripts will be generated. If already byte-compiled modules are found, they are removed.

If you use this program, your package should build-depend on **python**.

## OPTIONS

- *module dirs*

  If your package installs Python modules in non-standard directories, you can make *dh\_python* check those directories by passing their names on the command line. By default, it will check */usr/lib/site-python*, */usr/lib/$PACKAGE*, */usr/share/$PACKAGE*, */usr/lib/games/$PACKAGE*, */usr/share/games/$PACKAGE* and */usr/lib/python?.?/site-packages*.

  Note: only */usr/lib/site-python*, */usr/lib/python?.?/site-packages* and the extra names on the command line are searched for binary (*.so*) modules.

- **-V** *version*

  If the *.py* files your package ships are meant to be used by a specific **python***X***.***Y* version, you can use this option to specify the desired version, such as **2.3**. Do not use if you ship modules in */usr/lib/site-python*.

- **-n**, **--noscripts**

  Do not modify *postinst*/*prerm* scripts.

## CONFORMS TO

Debian policy, version 3.5.7

Python policy, version 0.3.7

## SEE ALSO

[*debhelper*(7)](/debhelper/7.md)

This program is a part of debhelper.

## AUTHOR

Josselin Mouette \<joss@debian.org\>

most ideas stolen from Brendan O'Dea \<bod@debian.org\>