**Course Title:** PyQt6 Application Development **Section Title:** Deploying PyQt6 Applications **Topic:** Packaging PyQt6 applications for distribution (PyInstaller, fbs) Once you've developed a PyQt6 application, you'll want to share it with others or deploy it to production. However, simply distributing the Python code is not enough, as it requires a compatible Python environment and PyQt6 installation on the target machine. To overcome this challenge, you can use tools like PyInstaller and fbs to package your application into a standalone executable that can be run on any machine without requiring a Python environment. **What is PyInstaller?** PyInstaller is a popular tool for converting Python scripts into standalone executables. It supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. PyInstaller can handle complex dependencies, including PyQt6, and provides a simple way to package your application. **Installing PyInstaller** To install PyInstaller, you can use pip: ```bash pip install pyinstaller ``` **Using PyInstaller with PyQt6** To use PyInstaller with PyQt6, follow these steps: 1. Create a new directory for your project and navigate to it in your terminal/command prompt. 2. Create a new file called `main.py` and add your PyQt6 application code to it. 3. Open a terminal/command prompt and navigate to the project directory. 4. Run the following command to create a standalone executable: ```bash pyinstaller --windowed --onefile main.py ``` This command will create a standalone executable called `main.exe` (on Windows) or `main` (on macOS and Linux) in a new directory called `dist`. **What is fbs?** fbs (freeze and build system) is a Python package for building macOS `.app` bundles and Windows `.exe` executables. It provides a simple way to package your PyQt6 application and offers features like: * Automatic dependency detection * Support for pkg_resources * Integrated installer generator **Installing fbs** To install fbs, you can use pip: ```bash pip install fbs ``` **Using fbs with PyQt6** To use fbs with PyQt6, follow these steps: 1. Create a new directory for your project and navigate to it in your terminal/command prompt. 2. Create a new file called `main.py` and add your PyQt6 application code to it. 3. Create a new file called `app.json` and add the following configuration: ```json { "name": "MyApp", "version": "1.0", "main": "main.py", "author": "Your Name" } ``` This configuration specifies the name of your application, its version, the main entry point, and the author. 4. Run the following command to create a standalone executable: ```bash fbs run ``` This command will create a standalone executable called `MyApp.exe` (on Windows) or `MyApp.app` (on macOS) in a new directory called `target`. **Key differences between PyInstaller and fbs** Here are the main differences between PyInstaller and fbs: * **Dependency detection**: PyInstaller requires manual dependency detection, while fbs can detect dependencies automatically. * **Platform support**: PyInstaller supports a wider range of platforms, including Linux. * **`.app` bundle support**: fbs provides integrated support for creating `.app` bundles on macOS, while PyInstaller requires additional tools. **Best practices for packaging PyQt6 applications** Here are some best practices to keep in mind when packaging your PyQt6 application: * **Use relative paths**: Use relative paths in your application code to avoid issues with packaging. * **Use `os.path`**: Use the `os.path` module to detect the current working directory and avoid issues with packaging. * **Use `sys.path`**: Use the `sys.path` module to detect the Python interpreter and avoid issues with packaging. **Conclusion** Packaging your PyQt6 application is an essential step in deploying it to production. Both PyInstaller and fbs are popular tools that can help you create standalone executables that can be run on any machine without requiring a Python environment. By following the best practices outlined in this topic, you can ensure that your application is properly packaged and ready for deployment. **External links** * PyInstaller documentation: <https://pyinstaller.readthedocs.io/en/stable/> * fbs documentation: <https://build-system.fman.io/> **Do you have any questions?** We encourage you to ask questions in the comments below if you need further clarification or help with packaging your PyQt6 application. **What's next?** In the next topic, we'll cover **Cross-platform compatibility considerations**. Do you have any questions so far?