deb-pkg-tools
Debian packaging tools
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No. The package is abandoned (last release 2021-03-09) with no active maintenance or security updates. While it has low install friction and permissive licensing, the lack of maintenance means it will not receive bug fixes, security patches, or compatibility updates for modern Python versions or Debian systems. Use only if you are maintaining legacy systems already running this package and cannot migrate to actively maintained alternatives.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires external Debian tools: dpkg-dev, fakeroot, and lintian must be installed via system package manager (e.g., apt-get).
- Package is abandoned and may not work with modern Python or Debian versions.
- Low install friction with five runtime dependencies.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license (permissive) allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions.
last release 2021-03-09 (1984 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 101,373 downloads/mo, #12,942 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install deb-pkg-tools
from deb_pkg_tools.package import inspect_package
metadata = inspect_package('/path/to/package.deb')- Whether the package still works correctly with current Debian/Ubuntu systems and modern Python versions beyond those tested at release.
- Compatibility status with Python 3.9+ given the last release predates these versions.
- Whether external Debian tools (dpkg-dev, fakeroot, lintian) remain compatible with the package's expectations.
What it is and what it does
deb-pkg-tools is a Python library and CLI for automating Debian binary package operations. It wraps lower-level Debian tools (dpkg, fakeroot, lintian, apt-ftparchive) to provide higher-level functions for building packages, inspecting metadata, validating packages, managing repositories, and collecting dependencies. The package exposes functionality both as a Python API for programmatic use and as shell-friendly command-line commands, making it useful in build automation and package management scripts.
The package enforces opinionated defaults about how Debian packages should be built but provides environment variables and function arguments to override most behaviors. It was tested on CPython 2.7, 3.5+, and PyPy at the time of its last release. The codebase claims around 90% test coverage, though the package has not been actively maintained since March 2021.
Use it for
- Automate building Debian binary packages in CI/CD pipelines without manual dpkg-deb invocations.
- Inspect and validate .deb archive metadata and dependencies programmatically before deployment.
- Create and manage trivial Debian package repositories for internal or testing purposes.
- Collect a package and all its dependencies into a single directory for offline installation.
- Perform static analysis on package archives to catch common packaging errors early.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No.
The package is abandoned (last release 2021-03-09) with no active maintenance or security updates. While it has low install friction and permissive licensing, the lack of maintenance means it will not receive bug fixes, security patches, or compatibility updates for modern Python versions or Debian systems. Use only if you are maintaining legacy systems already running this package and cannot migrate to actively maintained alternatives.
Install
deb-pkg-tools on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with five runtime dependencies. However, the package is abandoned—last release was 2021-03-09, over 1984 days ago. No active maintenance or security updates.
Requires external Debian tools: dpkg-dev, fakeroot, and lintian must be installed via system package manager (e.g., apt-get). Package is abandoned and may not work with modern Python or Debian versions.
License in practice
MIT license (permissive) allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install deb-pkg-tools
from deb_pkg_tools.package import inspect_package
metadata = inspect_package('/path/to/package.deb')Verify before relying
- Whether the package still works correctly with current Debian/Ubuntu systems and modern Python versions beyond those tested at release.
- Compatibility status with Python 3.9+ given the last release predates these versions.
- Whether external Debian tools (dpkg-dev, fakeroot, lintian) remain compatible with the package's expectations.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 5 packagesexecutorcoloredlogshumanfriendlyproperty-managersix |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 1,984 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 101,373 / month, #12,942 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Information TechnologyIntended Audience :: System AdministratorsLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Software DevelopmentTopic :: Software Development :: Build ToolsTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: System :: Archiving :: PackagingTopic :: System :: Installation/SetupTopic :: System :: Software DistributionTopic :: System :: Systems AdministrationTopic :: TerminalsTopic :: Utilities |
Evidence: deb_pkg_tools-8.4-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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See also bindep · debian-inspector · python-debian · requires.io · pwntools · stdeb · rpmfile · pylibfdt · conda-package-handling · patool