installer-creator 0.2.0

Python package for compiling projects with Nuitka and creating Windows installers with Wix Toolset

Installer Creator

Python package for compiling projects with Nuitka and creating Windows installers with Wix Toolset.

Features

• One-click builds - Compile Python to EXE and create installers with a single command
• Graphical Config Editor - Intuitive UI for managing build configurations
• Python Path Selection - Manually specify Python executable or auto-detect virtual environments
• File Browser Integration - Easily add files and resources with a file dialog
• Real-time Progress - View build output and cancel long-running operations
• Upgrade Code Management - Generate consistent UUIDs for product upgrades
• Flexible Configuration - Support for complex build scenarios and dependencies

Installation

pip install installer-creator

Prerequisites

1. Wix Toolset (required for installer creation):

   dotnet tool install --global wix
   

   The package will automatically install the Wix UI extension if missing

2. Nuitka (will be installed automatically)

Quick Start

1. Create a basic configuration:

   installer-creator config-editor
   

2. Build your application:

   installer-creator build-exe
   

3. Create an installer:

   installer-creator build-installer
   

Configuration Editor GUI

The graphical interface provides:

• Visual Editing of all configuration options
• Live Preview of installer appearance
• One-click Builds directly from the interface
• Validation of configuration values
• Progress Monitoring with cancel option

Launch the GUI with:

installer-creator config-editor

Command Line Usage

# Generate deterministic UUID for upgrade codes
installer-creator generate-uuid -s "MyAppName"

# Build executable with custom config
installer-creator build-exe -c custom_config.yaml --verbose

# Build with specific Python executable
installer-creator build-exe --python-path "C:\\path\\to\\python.exe"

# Create installer with debug output
installer-creator build-installer -c custom_config.yaml --debug

Troubleshooting

Common Issues:

• Missing Wix Toolset: Ensure wix is installed globally
• Permission Errors: Run commands as administrator when needed
• Build Failures: Check paths and file permissions in configuration

For detailed debugging:

installer-creator build-exe --debug

Testing

The project includes comprehensive tests covering:

• Build process validation
• Installer creation
• Configuration handling
• Edge case scenarios

Run tests with:

pytest tests/

Configuration

Create a build_config.yaml file:

# Nuitka build configuration
project:
  name: "MyApp"  # Application name
  version: "1.0.0"
  description: "My Application Description"
  company: ""
  icon: "app_icon.ico"  # Optional icon file
  main_file: "main.py"  # Entry point file
  python_path: ""  # Optional path to Python executable (auto-detected if empty)

build:
  output:
    directory: "dist"
    filename: "my_app.exe"  # Output executable name
  options:
    standalone: true
    onefile: true
    splash_screen: ""
    remove_output: true
  include:
    packages:
      - ""
    plugins:
      - ""
    data_dirs:
      - source: "resources"
        target: "resources"
    external_data:
      - "*.dll"
    files:
      - "requirements.txt"
      - "readme.md"
      - "*.json"  # Example wildcard pattern
  copy_beside:
    - "resources"

installer:
  enabled: true
  output:
    directory: "dist"
    filename: "my_app_installer.msi"
  metadata:
    manufacturer: "Your Company"
    product_name: "My Application"
    upgrade_code: ""  # Generate with installer-creator generate-uuid
  ui:
    banner_image: "banner.bmp"
    dialog_image: "dialog.bmp"
  license_file: "license.rtf"
  shortcuts:
    desktop: true
    start_menu: true

debug:
  enabled: false
  console:
    mode: "disabled"
    stdout: null
    stderr: null

exclude:
  - "__pycache__"
  - "*.pyc"
  - "*.pyo"
  - "*.pyd"
  - "build"
  - "dist"

Resource Paths

The installer supports flexible resource locations:

• UI images (banner/dialog) can be anywhere
• License file can be anywhere
• Paths can be absolute or relative to config file

GUI Features

The configuration editor provides a graphical interface for:

• Editing all aspects of the build configuration
• Managing project details, build settings, and installer options
• Previewing configuration changes
• Building executables and installers directly from the GUI
• Viewing real-time build output
• Canceling builds in progress
• Specifying a custom Python executable path
• Browsing and selecting files with a native file dialog

To launch the GUI, simply run:

installer-creator config-editor

The GUI will automatically create a default configuration file if none exists.