Kevin Walzer wrote: > Which of the Windows/Unix package builders for Python applications is > capable of creating single-file executables? I'm thinking of: > > 1. py2exe > 2. Mcmillan Installer/PyInstaller > 3. cxfreeze > > The apps I've seen created by py2exe aren't single-file at all, the > install folder is full of files besides the main program. I'm looking > for a solution that stuffs all libraries, scripts, and the Python > runtime into one file. >
I use py2exe and Inno Installer and get to a single file installation that way. Inno creates setup.exe as a single file. That file may actually expand into several files upon installation (which is typical as you want readme.txt, history.txt, other documentation, maybe example .ini file, etc.). IMHO the fact that py2exe doesn't create a single exe is a non-problem. What other Windows app when installed only installs <progname>.exe and NO OTHER FILES. Inno solves the problem of only having a single .exe to DISTRIBUTE which I think is the real goal. Inno also lets you automate the creation of desktop/quicklaunch/startbutton icons, insertion of items into the registry, and a whole host of other "stuff" that normally must be done to complete a proper installation. With some plug-ins, you can even have it get updates from a website (I have not tested this, but I've read about it). If you want to "obscure" your programs use the bundle option and py2exe imbeds the .ZIP file inside the .EXE file (making it somewhat harder to hack). -Larry Bates -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
