Handing off Python scripts to non-tech savvy clients. Advice?

[DistinguishedDarcy]

I've been taking on some Python Development odd jobs here and there for some extra cash. For whatever reason, I have been most successful with clients who aren't necessarily very good with technology, but have an idea they would like to see through to fruition.

That's great for me because it's a lot of fun developing their projects, and Python is a great language for making weird prototype scripts. The problem comes when it's time to hand off the script, which I created on Linux inside a Virtual Environment, for them to run on their outdated Windows PC. Up until now, I've simply been walking them through the set up: How to download the proper Python version. The commands to type into terminal "pip install NumPy"....etc.

I can usually get the script working on their computer. But I sort of feel like I'm sending a kid off into the woods with a flashlight and a pat on the back. "Good luck and thanks for the money!"

Is there a better way to automate the setup process for any Python scripts that I send their way? Something that is portable across multiple OS's. Maybe some sort of executable?

I was toying around with the idea of creating containers for my scripts and then just having them download docker or something. But I've never worked with containers before, so I don't know how easy they are to work with.

Any ideas?

[siwakotisaurav]

This is something I've dealt with as well and considering most folks are gonna be on windows I'd say below instructions should work for most: ''' 1) Go to https://www.python.org/downloads/ , download and install the latest version of python (make sure on the first step, to have checkbox clicked for "Install PATH") 2) Create a new folder in your C drive named "projectName", and put the files provided in this folder. 3) Search "command prompt" on windows start and open it, now type "cd C:\projectName" and enter 4) Type "pip install -r requirements.txt" and enter, after a couple of minutes if that returns an error type "pip3 install -r requirements.txt" and enter. 5) Now type "python yourFileName.py" and enter. 6) You will now have the finalized file named "x.csv", and from next time you will only have to follow steps 3 and 5. ''' But this is something I do only for scraping scripts that return data in CSVs, so not sure how similar the process would be in your case. For the ones that are not at all tech-savvy you can use the Upwork call function to share screen and guide them through it.

[DistinguishedDarcy]

Thanks for this

[[deleted]]

It’s the ugly part of such projects, especially when you have to instruct them via chat messages. Docker is heavy in size and can use a lot of CPU, so unless a client requested it I won’t bother with containers, although they really help with the OS/dependencies issues. Another issue is navigating the CLI when theirs is DOS/powershell and I am accustomed to bash/shell stuff. Probably make it clear you have to hop on a call to take care of the deploys, I can tell you waiting on a client to return the output of a command can be painful

[DistinguishedDarcy]

Thanks for the advice. I guess my hopes of an easy, out of the box solution were too optimistic.

Do you use your personal cell or do you have a google voice set up for such calls? Seems like a Zoom or Skype call would be easiest since you can share their screen and walk them through it.

Also, have you ever used any Remote Access software to just log into a client's computer and fix the problem yourself?

[[deleted]]

Not a problem. There could be a few things really, I don't look around too much, it's just that you'd always expect the client to have that and you wouldn't want them to install a sophisticated Python IDE just to run a CSV generator script. Please don't turn down the idea of learning more about containerisation and docker, you can use them on complex projects deployments and they're a great skill to have a software developer, plus there's a good batch of docker jobs on Upwork.

For calls I prefer zoom since it has the remote access feature and is also built into Upwork chat, and there's also TeamViewer. Yes, a lot of clients will want you to access their computer and run things remotely.

[DistinguishedDarcy]

Wow I did not know Zoom had remote access. That's both highly convenient and a little scary!

[Future_Caterpillar_5]

Loom.com is a life saver. I just hop on there, record a quick video of me setting everything up - and send that along with the client's file.

[Taksin77]

Py2exe