py2exe

Py2exe

py2exe is a Python module that allows you to easily create standalone Windows executable programs from Python scripts. It bundles all necessary parts so you can distribute the resulting executables to end users who do not have Python installed.
py2exe image
packaging executable compiler python

py2exe: Create Standalone Windows Executables

py2exe is a Python module that allows you to easily create standalone Windows executable programs from Python scripts. It bundles all necessary parts so you can distribute the resulting executables to end users who do not have Python installed.

What is Py2exe?

py2exe is a Python module that facilitates the creation of standalone Windows executable programs from Python scripts. It works by analyzing the scripts as well as all imported modules and packages, then compiling them into binary packages that can be bundled together with the Python interpreter and runtime libraries.

Some key capabilities and benefits of py2exe include:

  • Allows distribution of Python programs to end users without requiring Python to be installed
  • Packages all necessary files so the resulting executables are self-contained
  • Provides options to consolidate modules and optimize executables for smaller size
  • Automatically finds and includes dependent DLLs and data files
  • Supports GUI applications using frameworks like Tkinter and wxPython
  • Compatible with most third-party Python packages
  • Free and open source software

So in summary, py2exe is a very useful tool for Python developers who want to create executable versions of their scripts that are easy to run for end users. It removes worries about dependencies and environment setup.

Py2exe Features

Features

  1. Bundles Python scripts into standalone Windows executables
  2. Includes Python interpreter and all necessary modules
  3. Supports console and Windows GUI applications
  4. Allows distribution of Python programs without requiring Python installation
  5. Works with most popular Python packages like PyQt, NumPy, etc
  6. Customizable through configuration files and command line options

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Easy way to distribute Python programs to end users

No need for recipients to install Python or modules

Good for delivering commercial applications

Makes Python GUI apps feel more like native Windows apps

Allows Python apps to run on computers without Python

Cons

Limited support for some Python packages

Can produce large executable files

Not designed for web applications

Requires some understanding of Python packaging

Debugging exe files harder than source code

May need tweaking to handle complex programs


The Best Py2exe Alternatives

Top Development and Python and other similar apps like Py2exe


Bbfreeze icon

Bbfreeze

bbfreeze is an open-source tool for converting Python programs into stand-alone executables. It works by analyzing the Python scripts along with their dependencies and packaging them into a single executable file. Some key features and benefits of bbfreeze:Makes Python applications highly portable - no need to install Python or deal...
Bbfreeze image
PyInstaller icon

PyInstaller

PyInstaller is an open-source tool that converts Python programs into stand-alone executables for distribution to end users. It works by analyzing the Python scripts along with all of its imports and dependencies, then packing them into a single package that can be run on systems without having Python installed.Some key...
PyInstaller image
Shed Skin icon

Shed Skin

Shed Skin is an experimental just-in-time compiler that can translate pure, but implicitly statically typed Python programs into optimized C++ code. It performs advanced type inference and program analysis to determine the types of all values at compile time, and uses this to generate faster code.Some key features of Shed...
Shed Skin image
MSIX Packaging SDK icon

MSIX Packaging SDK

The MSIX Packaging SDK is a set of libraries and tools from Microsoft that enables developers to package desktop (Win32) apps, Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps, and drivers as MSIX packages programmatically and via a command-line interface (CLI).MSIX is the newest Windows app package format from Microsoft. It aims to...
MSIX Packaging SDK image
Cx_Freeze icon

Cx_Freeze

cx_Freeze is a utility for freezing Python scripts into executables that can be distributed to end users who do not have Python installed. It analyzes Python code to determine all the modules and packages imported, then bundles them along with the Python interpreter into a folder structure. This folder can...
Cx_Freeze image
Nuitka icon

Nuitka

Nuitka is an open source Python compiler that can translate Python code into equivalent C or C++ code. It allows developers to create standalone executable binaries from Python scripts, removing the need to have Python installed in order to run them.Some of the key features and benefits of Nuitka include:Improved...
Nuitka image