Python - create an EXE that runs code as written, not as it was when compiled

Question

I'm making a pygame program that is designed to be modular. I am building an exe with pygame2exe of the file main.py, which basically just imports the real main game and runs it. What I'm hoping for is a sort of launcher that will execute Python scripts from an EXE, rather than a single program containing all immutable files.

What is the best way to go about this? I've tried using imp to dynamically import all modules at runtime instead of implicitly importing them, but that seems to break object inheritance.

Answer 1

After some experiments I've found a solution.

1. Create a separate folder source in the main folder of the application. Here will be placed source files. Also place file __init__.py to the folder. Lets name a main file like main_module.py.

2. Add all of its contents as a data files to the py2exe configuration setup.py. Now after compiling the program, these files will be placed in the dist folder.

   data_files += [('source', glob('source/*.py'),)]
   setup(
         data_files=data_files,
         ....  # other options
        windows=[
             {
               "script": "launcher.py",
               "icon_resources": [(0, "resources/favicon.ico")]
             }
        )
   

3. Make launcher.py - it's task is to import all system and required libraries like pygame, pyqt and so on. Then run you program:

   import sys, time, os, hashlib, atexit  # std modules
   import PyQt5, ...   # foreign libraries
   sys.path.insert(0, 'source')
   exec('import main_module')
   

4. Now main_module.py will be imported, if it imports your modules, they will be imported too in their places in hierarchy. For example head of the main_module.py can be like this:

    import user_tweaks
    from user_data import parser
   

   These files user_tweaks.py and user_data.py should be located in source folder at appropriate paths relative to main_module.py.

You may change contents of source folder without recompilation program itself. Any time program runs it uses fresh contents of source.

As a result you have an application folder with:

• A separate launcher - simple .exe file
• All required modules
• Your application with all its modules.

Answer 2

Last summer I have been struggling with the same problem - build single .exe from python script. However there was no PyGame, but there was a PyQt5, which added some problems alike. None of the pure standard tools helped me.

Finally I'd solved the problem with a chaine: make + Py2exe + 7Zip + Resource Hacker. This set gave me single .exe with all the resources onboard, which don't require installaton - so you can put it everywhere on windows box and run.

Here's detailed article: exe built with cx_Freeze, PyQt5, Python3 can't import ExtensionLoader_PyQt5_QtWidgets.py and run

Please, feel free to ask any questions.