Use Python without installing

Question

I have an installer which uses a Python script to install several components. I do not want to install Python on the users computer if they do not already have it and I also do not want having Python installed to be a prerequisite for using my installer. Is there a way of downloading Python without using the installer and just running it from a directory which can be easily removed after the installation is complete?

Solution 1

Portable Python is an easy tool to use on Windows. If you want to create .exe programs use PyInstaller to compile them. They can both work on top of each other, you can compile (make .exes) using Portable Python, Portable Python 3 is also available.

Solution 2

If the installer is for OS X or Linux, Python shall be there usually. Otherwise

• Lazy way: Detect if Python is existed. If not, ask user to install it as dependency. e.g. A link for python download page.

• Rewrite your script. If the logic is not complicated, use some other build-in shell script is a good idea.

• Static linking Python. Yes, static linking is evil. However, it's still an option. Found some project maybe helpful on github and google-code