diff --git a/make/project.conf b/make/project.conf
index 2540d86..4a29172 100644
--- a/make/project.conf
+++ b/make/project.conf
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ jw-maintainer = jan
 libname = none
 
 [pkg.requires.os]
-run = python3-magic, python3-termcolor
+run = python3-magic, python3-termcolor mypy
 
 [pkg.requires.jw]
 devel = jw-python-run = VERSION-REVISION, jw-build-devel = VERSION
diff --git a/tools/python/Makefile b/tools/python/Makefile
index b1ec41b..de51571 100644
--- a/tools/python/Makefile
+++ b/tools/python/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 TOPDIR = ../..
 
 include $(TOPDIR)/make/proj.mk
-include $(JWBDIR)/make/dirs.mk
+include $(JWBDIR)/make/py-mods.mk
diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/Cmd.py b/tools/python/jwutils/Cmd.py
index 329cc5a..90e78b7 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/Cmd.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/Cmd.py
@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
 import abc
 import argparse
+from abc import ABC
 
 from jwutils import log
 
-# compatible with Python 2 *and* 3
-ABC = abc.ABCMeta('ABC', (object,), {'__slots__': ()})
-
 # full blown example of one level of nested subcommands
 # git -C project remote -v show -n myremote
 
diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/Object.py b/tools/python/jwutils/Object.py
index 78e3b3c..8b47386 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/Object.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/Object.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import jwutils.log
 
 class Object(object): # export
 
-    def __init__():
+    def __init__(self):
         self.log_level = jwutils.log.level
 
     def log(self, prio, *args):
diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/Process.py b/tools/python/jwutils/Process.py
index faf0084..e1cba91 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/Process.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/Process.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from enum import Enum, Flag, auto
+from typing import *
 
 def _sigchld_handler(signum, process):
     if not signum == signal.SIGCHLD:
@@ -8,7 +10,7 @@ def _sigchld_handler(signum, process):
 
 class Process(ABC): # export
 
-    __processes                   = []
+    __processes: List[Process]    = []
 
     class State(Enum):
         Running                   = auto()
diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/Signals.py b/tools/python/jwutils/Signals.py
index 52d7819..af178e8 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/Signals.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/Signals.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from typing import Dict, Callable
 
-_handled_signals = {}
+_handled_signals: Dict[int, Callable] = {}
 
 def _signal_handler(signal, frame):
     if not signal in _handled_signals.keys():
diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/algo/ShuntingYard.py b/tools/python/jwutils/algo/ShuntingYard.py
index 7368e9b..a1e0970 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/algo/ShuntingYard.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/algo/ShuntingYard.py
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
     # ------------- testbed calculator
 
-    from string import atof
+    from locale import atof
 
     class Calculator(ShuntingYard):
 
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
             super(Calculator, self).__init__(operators)
 
     rr = Calculator().eval("( 2 * 3 + 4 * 5 ) / ( 5 - 3 )")
-    self.debug("Result =", rr)
+    print("Result =", rr)
 
     # ------------- testbed match object
 
@@ -335,4 +335,4 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     obj = Object("hans", "wurst")
 
     r = Matcher(obj).eval("name=hans and (not label~=worst)")
-    self.debug("Result =", r)
+    print("Result =", r)
diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/misc.py b/tools/python/jwutils/misc.py
index a3ef204..2f0486f 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/misc.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/misc.py
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@ import atexit
 import tempfile
 import inspect
 from jwutils import log
+from typing import Set
 
-_tmpfiles = set()
+_tmpfiles: Set[str] = set()
 
 def _cleanup():
     for f in _tmpfiles:
diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py b/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
index bbf4e79..b183ed8 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class StringTree: # export
         self.content = rhs.content
         for name, c in rhs.children.items():
             if not name in self.children.keys():
-                slog(DEBUG, "{}: adding new child: ".format(str(self), str(c)))
+                slog(DEBUG, "{}: adding new child: {}".format(str(self), str(c)))
                 self.children[name] = c
             else:
                 self.children[name].__add_children(c)