Can Python installation be as clean as PHP?

[Carl Banks]

Jack wrote:
> Then again, I do like the Python language. It would be great if
> Python (or a variation of Python) can be made the PHP way, one
> executable file, and you get everything.

True, sometimes it can be a real convenience to have this.  There are
solutions that implement your solution to some degree.  For instance,
for Windows there's Moveable Python (it costs a scant 5 pounds):

http://www.voidspace.org.uk/python/movpy/

I don't believe it's a single file, but it is "installationless".
Py2exe and PyInstaller can let you distribute programs as single-file
executables.  PyInstaller works on Unix too, IIRC.

If you're good at tweaking stuff and have some knowledge of Python
internals; it's possible to make a minimal distro just by copying files
out of a regular installation by hand (and maybe zipping some them up).
 This can be a security and bug risk, so be careful.


Carl Banks