1. 4
    How to convert Python Applications to installable applications? ☶ ask python
    authored by jjasghar avatar jjasghar 10 months ago (hidden by 2 users) | 11 comments

I’ve heard about pyinstaller and a couple of other ways of converting Python applications to .exes, .apps, or .bins. However, I haven’t been able to find a full tutorial on the best practices for making applications.

I have an application called instructlab and got these dev-doc approved, but I’m realizing I’m completely out of my depth here.

I’m envisioning a “ drag-and-drop” installation application and maybe even a GUI front end to it eventually, but I want to “remove” the pip install from the end user.

Does anyone have good suggestions on books/websites/tutorials I can start reading into?

    1. 5
      simonw avatar simonw 10 months ago

      Take a look at Briefcase: https://briefcase.readthedocs.io/

      There was a very detailed tutorial at PyCon this year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=New2JLvWxiE&list=PL2Uw4_HvXqvYhjub9bw4uDAmNtprgAvlJ

      1. 2
        jjasghar avatar jjasghar 9 months ago

        Just to follow up here Simon, thank you again, it got me to a deployable .pkg which is more then i could ask for. Thank you again for your help.

        1. 1
          jjasghar avatar jjasghar 10 months ago

          Wonderful thank you Simon!

        2. 3
          linkdd avatar linkdd 10 months ago

          I’ve used this tutorial for pyinstaller in that past: https://realpython.com/pyinstaller-python/

          I’m quite satisfied with PyInstaller and successfully distributed apps on Windows with it.

          1. 1
            jjasghar avatar jjasghar 10 months ago

            Ah nice! Thank you. This in just one .py file though right? I’m looking for a whole package to convert into a .exe or .app.

            1. 1
              linkdd avatar linkdd 10 months ago

              It starts from the entrypoint and somehow scans everything imported and packages it automatically.

              1. 1
                jjasghar avatar jjasghar 10 months ago

                Oh nice, i just found this too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_Bus_FNjpg, this seems like a full talk on pyinstaller.

          2. 3
            tusharsadhwani avatar tusharsadhwani 10 months ago

            Very much a self plug but check out https://packaged.live

            1. 1
              Halkcyon avatar Halkcyon edited 10 months ago

              imo? Pick something built for distributable executables. Having to package your platform-dependent interpreter to run the app in the first place isn’t worth it.

              And it really could be anything else. I know .NET, Rust, Go, et al. have single-binary compilation options. Rust has a benefit that you could embed the Python and run it from the application via PyO3.

              1. 1
                ibookstein avatar ibookstein 10 months ago

                I don’t have personal experience with it, but PyOxidizer sounds like a possible contender here.