PyInstaller 1.1 review

PyInstaller is a program that packages Python programs into stand-alone executables, under both Windows and Linux. PyInstaller origi

License: Freely Distributable File size: 1063K Developer: Giovanni Bajo

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PyInstaller is a program that packages Python programs into stand-alone executables, under both Windows and Linux.

PyInstaller originally was Gordon McMillan's Python Installer, but since the original site disappeared it has been rescued to this site. It is currently unmaintained.

Here are some key features of "PyInstaller":
Packaging of Python programs into standard executables, that work on computers without Python installed.
Multiplatform: works under Windows and Linux.
Dual packaging mode:
Single directory: build a directory containing an executable plus all the external binary modules (.dll, .pyd, .so) used by the program.
Single file: build a single executable file, totally self-contained, which runs without any external dependency.
Support for automatic binary packing through the well-known [WWW] UPX compressor.
Optional console mode (see standard output and standard error at runtime).
Selectable executable icon (Windows only).
Fully configurable version resource section in executable (Windows only).
Support for building COM servers (Windows only).

Requirements:
The original versions of PyInstaller (see downloads below) are reported to work with any version of Python since 1.5 and up to 2.2. I personally tested it only with Python 2.1 and above. For Python 2.3, a simple fix is needed (see my patch below). For Python 2.4 under Windows, some more rework is needed because the bootloader must be recompiled with a newer version of Visual Studio: I am working on it.

What's New in This Release:
Single-file packages do not depend on MSVCRT71.DLL anymore.
UPX setup has been fixed to properly compress binaries generated with Visual Studio .NET 2003.
Building of COM servers was fixed. Python path detection was improved.
Better handling of broken imports.
Import hooks have been added for GTK, PyOpenGL, dsnpython, and KInterasDB.
Many bugs have been fixed.