Distribution Utilities

General distribution of Python code is typically done using the Distutils package from the standard library which can produce source and binary distributions which depend on end-users having Python already installed on their computer (with Python Eggs being a form of software distribution provided by the Distutils derivative, setuptools). Such source and binary software distributions are frequently available as operating system packages (a more general form of the term "package" referring not just to code but also to documentation, resources and other things) and can be installed using the package management infrastructure employed by various operating systems - see "System Package Distribution" below.

Executable Applications

The following projects support the production of executable application from Python scripts.

Package

Target

Latest update date

Latest version

Notes

bbfreeze

Python 2

2014-01-20

1.1.3

Create standalone executables from python scripts

esky

Python 2 & 3

2013-03-27

0.9.8

An auto-update framework built on top of bbfreeze

cx Freeze

Python 2

2006-07-21

3.0.3

a set of utilities for freezing Python scripts

ExeMaker

Python 2

2004-10-12

1.2

Creates EXE loaders for Python scripts (for Windows)

Freeze

Python 2 & ( 3 when fixed)

Varies by python version

Varies by python version

Bundled with Python in the "Tools" Directory as freeze.py allows building executables (Unix-only?)

py2exe

Python 2

2008-11-16

0.6.9

Transform Python scripts into standalone Windows executable. See py2exe

py2app

Python 2 & 3

2014-02-06

0.8

Converts Python scripts into executable Mac OS X applications

McMillan's Installer

Python 2

2003-06-04

5b5_4

Includes notes about (other) distributing solutions

PyInstaller

Python 2

2013-09-18

2.1

Derived from McMillan's installer

Signet

Python 2

2014-07-28

1.0.10

Signet is a distutils extension for creating tamper resistant python, while still distributing python code.

pyarmor

Python 2 & 3

2018-10-29

4.1.4

Obfuscate python scripts, bind obfuscated scripts to fixed machine or expire obfuscated scripts

Installers

Installers are sometimes needed to wrap up the output of freeze tools into packages:

See also

System Package Distribution

Although Distutils supports the production of some system packages, other tools exist to make such packages:

Distribution Using Virtualisation

It is possible to distribute entire systems which can then be run under virtualisation or as "live CD" environments. Some solutions attempt to incorporate such approaches in a way which is transparent to the user:


CategoryDistutilsCookbook

DistributionUtilities (last edited 2024-01-04 11:20:11 by MarcAndreLemburg)

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