Given a debian source package - How do I install the build-deps?

I have a debian (well technically ubuntu) source package, i.e. the .dsc, the .tar.gz, etc., I want to build this. The dpkg-buildpackage fails, since I don't have all the build dependencies.

Normally I'd use apt-get build-dep, but this package isn't in apt.

Is there a 'clean', 'proper' way to install all the build dependencies, given a source package. I know I could just open the debian/control file, but I'm curious if there's a 'proper' way.

I have installed build-essential, and have all the normal compilers etc., this package requires extra software.

From serverfault Rory McCann

• Try:

  apt-get install build-essential
  

  Rory McCann : I have install build-essential. This package requires extra software.

  Lanselot : And it doesn't explain what requires? maybe libncurses-dev also.
  From Lanselot

• Actually I can use dpkg-checkbuilddeps which shows the build dependencies. That gets me 99% of what I need

  quack quixote : oddly enough, the *packagename-version.dsc* file contains the build dependencies in the line that begins with the string **Build-Depends**
  From Rory McCann

• Use mk-build-deps which is part of devscripts.

  From ptman

• I usually use debuild from devscripts to build packages, and if relevent it prints a line of the missing build-deps.

  The "proper" way is to use pbuilder or similar which will build the package in a minimal chroot, and just install any additional build-deps as specified by the package, this also removes a bunch of other potential issues (local installations of non-packaged libraries for example).

  From LapTop006