diff --git a/scripts/deps.mk b/scripts/deps.mk
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a2199f066
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/deps.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# check the existence of a specific executable
+# usage: check_dep_exec <executable name>
+define check_dep_exec =
+BUILD_DEPS += check_$(1)
+check_$(1):
+	@if ! which $(1) > /dev/null; then   \
+	     echo "******** Missing prerequisite tool ********"; \
+	     echo "Cannot find executable *$(1)*"; \
+	     echo "Please refer to the Getting Started Guide" \
+	          "for installation instructions"; \
+	     exit 1; \
+	 fi
+endef
+
+# check the existence of a specific python library
+# usage: check_dep_pylib <library name>
+define check_dep_pylib =
+BUILD_DEPS += check_$(1)
+check_$(1):
+	@if ! pip list 2>/dev/null | grep $(1) > /dev/null 2>&1; then   \
+	     echo "******** Missing prerequisite tool ********"; \
+	     echo "The python library *$(1)* is not installed"; \
+	     echo "Please refer to the Getting Started Guide" \
+	          "for installation instructions"; \
+	     exit 1; \
+	 fi
+endef