PyInstaller converts Python programs into independent executables on Windows and Linux operating systems, eliminating the need for software installation.
One of the key features of PyInstaller is the ability to package programs into standard executables, which can be run on computers without Python installed. It also offers multiplatform support for both Windows and Linux operating systems. The software provides dual packaging modes, including a single directory containing an executable and all external binary modules or a single self-contained executable file that can run independently without any external dependency.
Other features of PyInstaller include support for automatic binary packing through the UPX compressor and an optional console mode, which allows for viewing standard output and standard error during runtime. It also has selectable executable icon for Windows and fully configurable version resource section in executable, and supports building COM servers for Windows operating systems.
To use PyInstaller, you need to have the prerequisite of Python, with any version of Python 1.5 and up to 2.2 working with the original versions of PyInstaller. The software has been personally tested with Python 2.1 and above. However, a simple fix is required for Python 2.3, and for Python 2.4 under Windows, additional rework is needed as the bootloader must be recompiled with a newer version of Visual Studio.
The latest release of PyInstaller has fixed a number of bugs and problems, including the disappearance of user-provided icons when built executables are compressed with UPX and packaging problems with applications using PIL. Additionally, packaged programs now have the correct look and feel when used under Windows XP and follow the user's themes. The bootloader has also been fixed to avoid a buffer overrun that could lead to a crash when the built executable is run from a deep directory pathname, and a regression introduced in version 1.1 has been fixed to remove the bootloader's dependency on libpythonX.X.so under Linux.
Version 1.3: N/A