Table of contents:
This is an example of using PyInstaller packager to build executable from one of CEF Python's examples (wxpython.py). Although this pyinstaller example supports only packaging on Windows, CEF can be packaged on all platforms without problems, but this specific packaging example just wasn't tested on other platforms. Pull requests are welcome.
To install required packages type:
pip install --upgrade pyinstaller==3.2.1 pycrypto
Note that the above command installs an old version of Pyinstaller 3.2.1 and this is intentional as this version has the least issues with Anti-virus software, see further on this page for more details.
To package the example go to the examples/pyinstaller/ directory and type:
python pyinstaller.py
Note on PyInstaller's bootloader (3.3/3.4) being flagged by Anti-virus software
PyInstaller's bootloader for Windows (runw.exe as of version 3.3 and 3.4) has 12/67 false-positives reported by Anti-virus software when scanning with virustotal.com and the maintainers of PyInstaller have no plans to fix that, see PyInstaller Issue #2501 for details. It is advised that you install PyInstaller version 3.2.1 which has the least amount of false positives, only 4/67 by some unpopular AVs. You might also consider using py2exe or cx_Freeze packagers instead and test whether these have less issues with Anti-virus software, however there are no official examples for these available.
If packaging succeeds you should see "dist/cefapp/" directory open in explorer on Windows. In there you will find "cefapp.exe" executable that you can launch.
If there is a "Fatal Error!" message box appearing when running app then see the next section for how to debug app.
In case of a fatal error to debug app pass "--debug" flag when packaging app:
python pyinstaller.py --debug
After packaging completes on Windows it will open a new CMD window and run the cefapp.exe inside it. You should see detailed logs in console like these:
[6708] PyInstaller Bootloader 3.x
[6708] LOADER: executable is \examples\pyinstaller\dist\cefapp\cefapp.exe
[6708] LOADER: homepath is \examples\pyinstaller\dist\cefapp
[6708] LOADER: _MEIPASS2 is NULL
[6708] LOADER: archivename is \examples\pyinstaller\dist\cefapp\cefapp.exe
[6708] LOADER: No need to extract files to run; setting extractionpath to homepath
[6708] LOADER: SetDllDirectory(\examples\pyinstaller\dist\cefapp)
[6708] LOADER: Already in the child - running user's code.
[6708] LOADER: Python library: \examples\pyinstaller\dist\cefapp\python27.dll
[6708] LOADER: Loaded functions from Python library.
[6708] LOADER: Manipulating environment (sys.path, sys.prefix)
[6708] LOADER: sys.prefix is C:\github\CEFPYT~2\examples\PYINST~1\dist\cefapp
[6708] LOADER: Setting runtime options
[6708] LOADER: Initializing python
[6708] LOADER: Overriding Python's sys.path
[6708] LOADER: Post-init sys.path is \examples\pyinstaller\dist\cefapp
[6708] LOADER: Setting sys.argv
[6708] LOADER: setting sys._MEIPASS
[6708] LOADER: importing modules from CArchive
[6708] LOADER: extracted pyimod00_crypto_key
[6708] LOADER: callfunction returned...
[6708] LOADER: extracted struct
[6708] LOADER: callfunction returned...
[6708] LOADER: extracted pyimod01_os_path
[6708] LOADER: callfunction returned...
[6708] LOADER: extracted pyimod02_archive
[6708] LOADER: callfunction returned...
[6708] LOADER: extracted pyimod03_importers
[6708] LOADER: callfunction returned...
[6708] LOADER: Installing PYZ archive with Python modules.
[6708] LOADER: PYZ archive: out00-PYZ.pyz
[6708] LOADER: Running pyiboot01_bootstrap.py
[6708] LOADER: Running wxpython.py
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "wxpython.py", line 11, in <module>
File "c:\python27\lib\site-packages\PyInstaller-3.3-py2.7.egg\
PyInstaller\loader\pyimod03_importers.py", line 396,
in load_module exec(bytecode, module.__dict__)
File "site-packages\cefpython3\__init__.py", line 50, in <module>
File "c:\python27\lib\site-packages\PyInstaller-3.3-py2.7.egg\
PyInstaller\loader\pyimod03_importers.py", line 687,
in load_module module = imp.load_module(fullname, fp, filename,
ext_tuple)
File "cefpython_py27.pyx", line 283, in init cefpython_py27
(cefpython_py27.cpp:110881)
ImportError: No module named json
[6708] Failed to execute script wxpython
[6708] LOADER: OK.
[6708] LOADER: Cleaning up Python interpreter.
The corresponding issue in the tracker is Issue #135.
See also the Build executable section in Tutorial.