How can I distribute python programs?

Michael Zippo

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My application looks like this:

main.py
windows/
    __init__.py
    mainwindow.py
    ...
model/
    __init__.py
    orders.py
    ...
resources/
    image1.png
    logo.jpg
    ...

The program is started with main.py. Is there a good way to create a "final" application out of it? I"m thinking of something like py2exe/py2app, but without copying the python interpreter / modules into the application where one has only one executable.

I had a look at distutils, but this looks like it installs a program into the Python directory, which isn"t usual on non-linux platforms.

At the moment I just copy the whole source folder onto the target machine and create an alias to main.pyw on windows. Some inconveniences:

The icon is the default python icon.
I have to create the alias manually.
In my source directory there are a lot of additional files like the source control folder.
I have to rename main.py to main.pyw manually.
It would be nice if only ’.pyo* files are on the target machine. There"s no real reason for it, I just don"t like having unnecessary files.

How does one create a nice automated distribution?

for windows? (That"s the only platform that I have to support at the moment.)
for mac?
for linux?

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How can I distribute python programs? del: Questions

__del__

How can I make a time delay in Python?

5 answers

I would like to know how to put a time delay in a Python script.

2973

Answer #1

import time
time.sleep(5)   # Delays for 5 seconds. You can also use a float value.

Here is another example where something is run approximately once a minute:

import time
while True:
    print("This prints once a minute.")
    time.sleep(60) # Delay for 1 minute (60 seconds).

2973

Answer #2

You can use the sleep() function in the time module. It can take a float argument for sub-second resolution.

from time import sleep
sleep(0.1) # Time in seconds

How can I distribute python programs? del: Questions

__del__

How to delete a file or folder in Python?

5 answers

How do I delete a file or folder in Python?

2639

Answer #1

os.remove() removes a file.
os.rmdir() removes an empty directory.
shutil.rmtree() deletes a directory and all its contents.

Path objects from the Python 3.4+ pathlib module also expose these instance methods:

pathlib.Path.unlink() removes a file or symbolic link.
pathlib.Path.rmdir() removes an empty directory.

We hope this article has helped you to resolve the problem. Apart from How can I distribute python programs?, check other __del__-related topics.

Want to excel in Python? See our review of the best Python online courses 2023. If you are interested in Data Science, check also how to learn programming in R.

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Cornwall Sikorski

Paris | 2023-03-22

I was preparing for my coding interview, thanks for clarifying this - How can I distribute python programs? in Python is not the simplest one. Will get back tomorrow with feedback

Davies Schteiner

Vigrinia | 2023-03-22

Thanks for explaining! I was stuck with How can I distribute python programs? for some hours, finally got it done 🤗. I am just not quite sure it is the best method

Walter Wu

Tallinn | 2023-03-22

Python functions is always a bit confusing 😭 How can I distribute python programs? is not the only problem I encountered. Checked yesterday, it works!