Python executables?

[Bruno Desthuilliers]

Catalin wrote:
> How can I make executables with python?
> I found some utilities that claim they can do something like that like 
> Installer and py2exe but they actualy pack the code in a huge arhive! 
> This solves the problem of giving python programs to users who don't 
> have python but doesn't solve the problem of the source "secrecy" 
> (copyright).
> And the programs also run much slower and become extremely big compared 
> to a normal C++ program for example. I made a test and a 2 programs 
> doing the same thing where 400 KB with C Builder (static linked) and 
> 2.80 MB with python+installer in an arhive packed with upx and 6.9 MB 
> with py2exe(unpacked). And the speed difference was huge.
> So can a python program become a "real" executable(I am refering both to 
> windows and unix platforms)?
> If this is imposible with python is it possible with jpython?
> 

Here you expose 3 different problems :

1/ source "secrecy" (copyright) :
It's the wrong problem. *Any* binary code can be subject to 
reverse-engineering. There are even tools to do this quite easily for 
Java. The right way to protect your property is via copyright and licence.

2/ Size of "packed" programs :
Realize that the pack must include the whole Python interpreter and 
librairies. BTW, I personnaly never used such tools, but I think I 
remember that some of them allow you to specify which parts you really need.

3/ 'Slowness' :
I don't believe that 'packing' the program makes it slower.

Are you sure your Python code is really Pythonic ? There are tips and 
tricks in how to 'optimize' Python code, and it can be very different 
from low-level (C/C++ etc) languages techniques. You may want to have a 
look at :
http://manatee.mojam.com/~skip/python/fastpython.html

Now if you really need smallest possible footprint and blazing-fast 
execution speed (which are antagonist needs anyway), and your program is 
about low-level stuff, you may not have choosen the right tool !-)

Bruno