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Introduction

Python, the high-level, interactive object oriented language, includes an extensive class library with lots of goodies for network programming, system administration, sounds and graphics. Debian always provides at least two versions of Python, the latest stable Python 2 release, and the latest stable Python 3 release. It may also provide additional versions, as well as tons of third party packages. Python is an important part of the Debian ecosystem.

Python is very easy to learn. You can begin with the DebianWomen/PythonTutorial or the official online tutorial if you want to get started programming in Python. You might also be interested in the Python wiki, the Python FAQ, and the online documentation.

Software written in the Python programming language is executed by the Python interpreter. It is usually compiled into platform independent bytecode files to increase performance. Python compiles and writes bytecode *.pyc files alongside the *.py sources. Extension modules can also be written in C, which are distributed as .so shared libraries.

Therefore software written in pure Python can be distributed as source code or as compiled bytecode. The latter is similar to Java.

Python in Debian

Sources available: ssh://git.debian.org//git/git/python-modules/misc/python-debian-artwork.git

As such, with hundreds of Python modules and multiple versions of Python supported, Debian is the largest "integrated Python distribution". Users of other operating systems (e.g. Windows and OS X) can also benefit from this integrative effort by means of virtualization (e.g. see NeuroDebian VM page for easy way to start)

Maintainers

Within the Debian project Python packages are maintained by individual developers and three main teams :

There are also :

Supported Python Versions

Those links list the distribution(s) that ship the given versions of python:

Debian Python Policy for Python developers

The Debian Python Policy describes conventions for packaging and distributing Python code in Debian.

Feel free to ask any questions on debian-python@list.debian.org mailing list.

if you want to maintain a Python package, you have to know how the Debian Development works.

Here's a nice webified version of Barry's IRC tutorial on Python packaging. Thanks to Neil Wallace for putting this up.

Deviations from upstream

Debian distributions modify upstream Python in a few ways that are important to understand. Of course, where at all possible, we try to minimize deviations from upstream, but here is an enumeration of the changes you might encounter on a Debian system (and derivatives, such as Ubuntu).

Encouraged practices

See also