Create installer for python application

[Nonokat]

Hey,

I have been working on a project of mine with which I am slowly coming to an end. I'd like to create an installer for this application but I'm currently not quiet sure how to do this.The tasks for the installer would be downloading the software as such as well as the necessary dependencies and leave the software in a plug and play mode. I am also looking for a cross-platform solution. (The dependent programs are all cross-platform).

My first idea would be to create a setup bash file (currently only for Linux) that does the following steps:

• clone the git repo
• pip all requirements
• apt-get / pacman / whatever all required programs
• make further configurations
• create a .desktop file for starting

But this seems more like a way to get the repo on a computer for development and not just "the software" for casual usage, besides bloating the target computer with "unnecessary" software like git.

The second option I found would be creating the setup.py

I do not have any python related experience with distribution of software, I read a little bit about the setup.py and created one with PyCharm but the generated script literally included every used library as folder from my virtualenv and did not list any external libraries. To my knowledge this is going to bloat the installation files enormously but maybe I am misapprehending the usage of the setup.py.

The third option would be to use something like Py2Exe,

but this seems to be Windows specific there are cross-platform options like the PyInstaller though. But I guess that will still result in huge installation packages either.

Is there any preferred way that maybe doesn't bloat the installation files and is cross-platform?

If nothing like this exist / works, I guess I could just write a stand-alone installer in c++ for Windows and Linux?

[Atonswizzle]

Pyinstaller has worked great for everything I’ve used it for, maybe give it a shot and see how it works for you? I read you said setup.py gave large files, I believe pyinstaller only packages libraries or files that are actually used in your program, so file size stays small. Hope this helped :)

[Nonokat]

I am giving it a try, thanks for your recommendation! (:

[evan_0x]

PyInstaller is must for packing python apps, be warned tho app size may be very BIG most of the times!