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macosinstallationpyinstallerdmg
trevor-pope
trevor-pope

Reputation: 116

How to build an installer for a python application for Mac

I have created a python application and can install it perfectly fine on Windows. I run pyinstaller to generate the executable, and then use NSIS to create an actual installer. I run the installer and it installs the application to my Program Files folder and gives me a nice desktop shortcut, etc.

What is the process to do the same for Mac? Essentially, I want to give my user a single file. When they run the file, it installs my program and any necessary libraries, and let's them launch it with a single click. I believe on Mac this is done with a .dmg or a .pkg file. What software/tools do I need to generate such a file? Do I need to restructure the project in anyway to create this?

For more info, pyinstaller creates a folder 'dist' which contains the unix executable of the application, and copies of python and any required libraries.

Note that I do not want to use the onefile option for pyinstaller because it would take a while to unpack everything each time the program is ran.

Upvotes: 2

Views: 327

Answers (1)

DBF
DBF

Reputation: 1

From a windows I don't know, But if you have a macOS available, You have to create a .spec file (auto-created with pyinstaller or manually) like this one :

# -*- mode: python ; coding: utf-8 -*-


a = Analysis(
    ['PYTHONSCRIPT.py'],
    pathex=[],
    binaries=[],
    datas=[('lib', '.')],
    hiddenimports=[],
    hookspath=[],
    hooksconfig={},
    runtime_hooks=[],
    excludes=[],
    noarchive=False,
    optimize=0,
)
pyz = PYZ(a.pure)

exe = EXE(
    pyz,
    a.scripts,
    [],
    exclude_binaries=True,
    name='App Name',
    debug=False,
    bootloader_ignore_signals=False,
    strip=False,
    upx=True,
    console=False,
    disable_windowed_traceback=False,
    argv_emulation=False,
    target_arch=None,
    codesign_identity=None,
    entitlements_file=None,
    icon=['logo.icns'],
)
coll = COLLECT(
    exe,
    a.binaries,
    a.datas,
    strip=False,
    upx=True,
    upx_exclude=[],
    name='App Name',
)
app = BUNDLE(
    coll,
    name='App Name.app',
    icon='./logo.icns',
    bundle_identifier=None,
)

You will maybe not need all argument, adapt to your usage. Finally, launch pyinstaller with option you need.

Best :)

Upvotes: 0

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