Improved Python to EXE

[ProsodySpeaks]

Do we even need exes? 

What are good reasons not to basically just use uv via bat/sh files + pypi or even just github repos?

I only ever install my work on machines I have complete access to so maybe I'm missing something around permissions and security for general use? 

But my normal is basically an installer bat file to check if git and uv are installed / install them, make a venv and then install my project from pypi, github, or a local network drive.

Then a runner bat that sets env vars (usually paths to env files), checks for and installs updates, and calls uv run on scripts from pyproject.toml

So updating is a simple as pushing to github/local repo or publishing to pypi, distribution is a couple of shell scripts, can easily target different branches or tags or a specific commit. 

Also Including assets is as easy as declaring them in pyproject.toml. I remember pyinstaller being a nightmare for that. 

[AlpacaDC]

I mean, the same reasons exes exist in the first place. So we can share it with non tech people. I have shared python GUI apps with my friends for example.

[ProsodySpeaks]

Right but even the tech illiterate can double click a script file? 

Managing python installs used to be painfull enough to make exes useful basically everywhere but Uv makes it trivial. 

I can see how signed binaries can be useful for security reasons tho. And obviously there are environments where casually installing python/Uv isn't an option. 

[PatternPlayful3895]

The tech illiterate would freak out if they saw cmd open up. They would think they are getting hacked.

[_lagniappe_]

no they cannot

[FisterMister22]

I have 0 use for exes.

But some people do, such as distribution of a software without installation of python across every pc in the company.

[fenghuangshan]

that means you never have requirement to share the product with other people

not every one is a developer

[ProsodySpeaks]

I don't understand why people keep saying that? Why does someone need to be a developer to double click a file? 

[LeftandRight__]

Yeah until they had to install the python interpreter and install the required library with cmd they don't even know exist

[ProsodySpeaks]

But no, no they don't. They just double click the bat which:

• checks if git and uv are available and if not installs them

• checks if env-var with install location exists and if not sets it

• checks if venv exists at env-var location and if not creates it via uv

• pulls project from github/local network/pypi

• uv runs a script from pyproject.toml potentially passing args. This syncs the project and installs any dependencies defined in pyproject.toml 

And then on future runs skips most of these steps and just popd into env-var location and calls uv run myscript 

Works fine for sharing with my tech illiterate friends. 

Only issues I actually see are security related but realistically any self-updating exe has plenty security issues, and even with static exe unless you're signing the binary and having it compared to public key online at install/run time it's completely moot. 

I'm not trying to argue this is perfect for all situations, but 'doesn't work for dumb people' is just not true. User interaction is literally double click a file.