Using the Windows "embedded" distribution of Python

[Paul Moore]

On Thursday, 29 September 2016 12:56:28 UTC+1, eryk sun  wrote:
> In that case you can use an application manifest with a dependent
> assembly. Say embedded Python 3.6 is in the "py3embed" subdirectory.
> Add the following manifest file to that directory:
> 
> py3embed.manifest:
> 
>     <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
>     <assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
>         <assemblyIdentity name="py3embed"
>                           version="3.6.111.1013"
>                           type="win32"
>                           processorArchitecture="amd64" />
>         <file name="python3.dll" />
>         <file name="python36.dll" />
>         <file name="vcruntime140.dll" />
>     </assembly>
> 
> Add this assembly as a dependency in the application manifest, either
> embedded in the executable (resource #1) or as a separate file named
> the same as the executable plus ".manifest", e.g. "app.exe.manifest".
> You can start with the manifest that's used by python.exe, from
> PC\python.manifest.
> 
>   <dependency>
>     <dependentAssembly>
>       <assemblyIdentity name="py3embed"
>                         version="3.6.111.1013"
>                         type="win32"
>                         processorArchitecture="amd64" />
>     </dependentAssembly>
>   </dependency>

OK, I thought I understood this, but it's not quite working.

I have the following directory structure:

    py3embed
        py3embed.manifest
        ... an unpacked Python 3.6b0 embedded distribution
    ssh.exe
    ssh.exe.manifest

(ssh.exe is my embedded Python program)

py3embed.manifest is

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
    <assemblyIdentity name="py3embed"
                      version="3.6.111.1013"
                      type="win32"
                      processorArchitecture="amd64" />
    <file name="python3.dll" />
    <file name="python36.dll" />
    <file name="vcruntime140.dll" />
</assembly>

ssh.exe.manifest is:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>                                                   
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">                                 
  <trustInfo>                                                                                             
    <security>                                                                                            
      <requestedPrivileges>                                                                               
        <requestedExecutionLevel level="asInvoker" uiAccess="false"/>                                     
      </requestedPrivileges>                                                                              
    </security>                                                                                           
  </trustInfo>                                                                                            
  <compatibility xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:compatibility.v1">                                      
    <application>                                                                                         
      <supportedOS Id="{e2011457-1546-43c5-a5fe-008deee3d3f0}"/>                                          
      <supportedOS Id="{35138b9a-5d96-4fbd-8e2d-a2440225f93a}"/>                                          
      <supportedOS Id="{4a2f28e3-53b9-4441-ba9c-d69d4a4a6e38}"/>                                          
      <supportedOS Id="{1f676c76-80e1-4239-95bb-83d0f6d0da78}"/>                                          
      <supportedOS Id="{8e0f7a12-bfb3-4fe8-b9a5-48fd50a15a9a}"/>                                          
    </application>                                                                                        
  </compatibility>                                                                                        
  <application xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3">                                                  
    <windowsSettings>                                                                                     
      <longPathAware xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/SMI/2016/WindowsSettings">true</longPathAware>   
    </windowsSettings>                                                                                    
  </application>                                                                                          
  <dependency>                                                                                            
    <dependentAssembly>                                                                                   
      <assemblyIdentity name="py3embed"                                                                   
                        version="3.6.111.1013"                                                            
                        type="win32"                                                                      
                        processorArchitecture="amd64" />                                                  
    </dependentAssembly>                                                                                  
  </dependency>                                                                                           
</assembly>

When I run ssh.exe, it fails with the message "The program cannot start because python3.dll is missing from your computer". I tried running it with sxstrace active, but the resulting log file is empty.

I'm not sure where to go next debugging this. Do you have any suggestions?

Paul