PyInstaller-basics

Making a Single Executable File with PyInstaller

Introduction

• Taking the output files of my Cython Basics PoC, I wanted to make a single executable from them and this could not be easier.
• PyInstaller reads a Python script, discovers every other module and library the script depends on, collects copies of those files including the Python interpreter and puts them in a single file.
• There is no need to have Python installed to run the output file.

Steps to reproduce it

1. Using the already created Virtual Environment, install the PyInstaller package

$ pip install pyinstaller

2. Running the command with the --onefile option will create a dist folder and within it the new binary executable to distribute (along with the build folder and the .spec file at the same level)

$ pyinstaller --onefile run_modules.py

3. It can be run as a standard linux executable

$ ./dist/run_modules

Additional Notes

• I left the files as they finished on my folders for this PoC, except for the env directory used for the Virtual Environment.