How do I compile a PyQt script (.py) to a single standalone executable file for windows (.exe) and/or linux?

Question

I started to fiddle with PyQt, and made a "beautiful" script from the pyqt whitepaper example app (pastebin)

It works perfectly in Windows and Linux (with qt environment already installed on both).

Now my question is: Since I am trying to use Qt because it is compiled (at least pure old C++ based Qt), how can I compile some .exe file to run it on Windows, or a standalone executable for Linux.

The point is that I want the program to be compiled, because of speed and portability, instead of interpreted from source, which would require a previous setup on any machine. One of the goals, for example, is sending small gui scripts via email to coworkers who are not programmers at all.

I'd say stackoverflow.com/questions/2709925/… answers your question for windows. — Martijn Pieters
– Martijn Pieters, Commented May 4, 2011 at 19:34
For Linux and Mac OS X, there is this question here on SO: stackoverflow.com/questions/4322250/python-executable — Martijn Pieters
– Martijn Pieters, Commented May 4, 2011 at 19:36
Did you get it to work? I have a similar question here: stackoverflow.com/questions/14051403/… — Duh Compewtuhr
– Duh Compewtuhr, Commented Dec 27, 2012 at 9:16
@DuhCompewtuhr Unfortunately I have not made additional attempts or projects, and still use PyGtk whenever I need some simple GUI stuff. — heltonbiker
– heltonbiker, Commented Dec 31, 2012 at 18:00
Possible duplicate of How to make an executable file in Python? — Jean-François Corbett
– Jean-François Corbett, Commented Nov 7, 2017 at 11:47

Fingerbit · Accepted Answer · 2022-02-25 05:40:12Z

72

if you want completelly create one stand alone executable, you can try PyInstaller . i feel it's better to create one stand alone executable than cx_freeze or py2exe (in my experience). and easy to use (full documentation available in the site).

It supports Python 3.6 or newer.

Pass the --onefile argument if you want to create completely standalone .exe. in example :

pyinstaller.exe --onefile --windowed app.py

edited Feb 25, 2022 at 5:40

Fingerbit

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answered May 6, 2011 at 20:33

Yuda Prawira

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4 Comments

Ari Over a year ago

Hey..., Good news! It is now support python 3.3 – 3.5.

user3078690 Over a year ago

I see that pyinstaller now supports Python 3.6 as well: Multi-version: supports Python 2.7 and Python 3.3—3.6.

A.J Over a year ago

@YudaPrawira: Is it possible to run the executable made by pyinstaller to run on machine, which doesn't have pyqt installed? I am trying to deploy a pyqt5 application and is facing issue...

Yuda Prawira Over a year ago

@Abin Please check here pythonhosted.org/PyInstaller/… I thought you can use --hidden-import command option. worth to try.

Michael Herrmann · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-02 07:01:38Z

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After spending many weeks on this and trying all the alternatives - PyInstaller, py2exe, cx_freeze,... - I created my own library: https://build-system.fman.io/. It is based on PyInstaller but solves many of its common pain points. It also lets you create native installers on Windows, Mac and Linux.

edited Jun 2, 2018 at 7:01

answered Jun 1, 2018 at 14:41

Michael Herrmann

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4 Comments

Voldemort Over a year ago

Sir, could you please confirm which versions of Python and PyQt are supported?

Michael Herrmann Over a year ago

Python 3.5 and 3.6 only for now.

user10838321 Over a year ago

please note the license: Licensing You can use fbs for free in open source projects that are licensed under the GPL. If you don't want to open your code up to the public, you can purchase a commercial license for EUR 449 per developer.

Michael Herrmann Over a year ago

*EUR 49 is the price for the cheapest commercial license.

Don O'Donnell · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-05 01:57:20Z

4

You may want to check out cx_freeze. It claims to create executables which are "cross platform and should work on any platform that Python itself works on."

I came across it in exploring the moneyGuru package which uses PyQt. I downloaded the moneyguru.exe file to my Windows XP system, executed it, and it worked fine on Python 3.2.

You can clone the hg repo from here to see how it.s done.

edited May 5, 2011 at 1:57

answered May 5, 2011 at 1:21

Don O'Donnell

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4 Comments

heltonbiker Over a year ago

O'Donnel: "the moneyguru.exe file (...) worked fine on Python 3.2". Don, I didn't understand this. You ran a .exe file on Python? You used cx_freeze to compile the py sources to get .exe file? Or someting else? Thanks!

Don O'Donnell Over a year ago

@heltonbiker: Sorry about the confusion. The download file is moneyGuru_win_2_3_7.exe. When you execute that it creates a directory in C:\Program Files called Hardcoded Software, this contains (among others) the file moneyGuru.exe which starts the Python app.

Don O'Donnell Over a year ago

@heltonbiker: I haven't tried to install the Linus or Mac versions but I expect they operate in a similar manner.

moken Over a year ago

All the links in this answer appear to no longer work reducing its effectiveness as an answer to the question.

Quazer · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-12 18:07:39Z

0

I am using pyinstaller

pip install pyinstaller

I don't know, but pyinstaller does't append sip.pyd. So, your need a PyQt5\sip.pyd. I recommend nice windows style qwindowvistastyle.dll.

Make build.cmd file as:

pyinstaller --onefile --clean ^
    --add-binary="C:\Users\Quazer\.virtualenv\pyqt5-36\Lib\site-packages\PyQt5\sip.pyd;PyQt5" ^
    --add-binary="C:\Users\Quazer\.virtualenv\pyqt5-36\Lib\site-packages\PyQt5\Qt\plugins\styles\qwindowsvistastyle.dll;PyQt5\Qt\plugins\styles" ^
    .\main.py

^ - new line in command file (.cmd, .bat)

answered Jul 12, 2018 at 18:07

Quazer

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1 Comment

msalihbindak Over a year ago

It looks they fix the issue. Just pyinstaller.exe --onefile --clean .\app.py works fine. Thanks

Cameron Lee · Accepted Answer · 2015-11-02 04:50:23Z

Since I am trying to use Qt because it is compiled

You're defeating this benefit by using Python. Although the other answers give an introduction to the options for distributing Python code without requiring users to install Python themselves, Python is intended to be an interpreted language so there will be downsides to each of these options (ex. speed, program size, compatibility, etc...). They may or may not be deal-breakers to you.

Your two other options are:

Embrace the interpreted nature of Python: have people you're sharing your program with install Python and the dependencies. You can simplify this process significantly though. Ex. on Linux, use a package manager.
Write your program in C++. Doing so would allow you to truly compile a single, native executable. This unfortunately means dropping Python, but there's reasons people still write code in less beautiful languages like C++ and it sounds like you might be running into some of them.

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