Python compiler?

[Tim Peters]

[J Dubal]
> Does [Python] have a compiler for Linux and/or windows that can
> produce native executables?

[Gerrit points to freeze, Tim explains that freeze inserts a copy
 of the interpreter]

[Gerrit Holl]
> Ah, so *that's* why it's so big!

In large part, yes.  If we could assume that "the normal" Python shared
libraries were available (as, e.g., compiled C programs routinely assume for
*their* libraries), freeze-like executables could be much smaller.  But
people asking for "native executables" are almost always really asking for
single-file solutions they can ship as-is to machines they know nothing
about.  After Python is installed everywhere (don't expect that before March
<wink>), we can skip stuffing in a copy of the Python .so/.dll core (which
consumes the bulk of the space).

> But isn't it possible to write a *compiler* for Python?

Looks like others have covered that.  They still need to access copies of
the normal Python runtime routines, though (e.g., for dict access and list
growing and method lookup and ...).

>> the-natives-are-restless-tonight-ly y'rs  - tim

> The natives?
> Native Pythoneers?

Had more in mind the "native executables".  Native Pythoneers are a very
calm lot <wink>.