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nuitka VS PyInstaller

Compare nuitka VS PyInstaller and see what are their differences

nuitka logo nuitka

Nuitka is a Python compiler.

PyInstaller logo PyInstaller

PyInstaller is a program that freezes (packages) Python programs into stand-alone executables...
  • nuitka Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-04
  • PyInstaller Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-20

nuitka features and specs

  • Performance Optimization
    Nuitka compiles Python code to C, which can lead to performance improvements by reducing execution time compared to regular Python interpreters. This is because compiled languages typically run faster than interpreted ones.
  • Stand-Alone Executables
    Nuitka supports creating stand-alone executables, allowing developers to distribute Python applications without requiring users to have a Python interpreter installed on their system.
  • Compatibility
    Nuitka is compatible with almost all Python modules and libraries, including native ones, providing developers with the flexibility to work with a broad array of Python ecosystems without losing functionality.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Nuitka supports multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, allowing compiled applications to be cross-platform compatible.
  • Maintains Python Semantics
    Nuitka strives to maintain 100% compatibility with Python behavior, ensuring that the behavior of compiled code matches that of code run by the Python interpreter.

Possible disadvantages of nuitka

  • Compilation Time
    Nuitka can have longer compilation times compared to other tools, especially for larger projects, which may affect development speed and workflow.
  • Larger Executable Size
    Executable files produced by Nuitka may be larger than those generated by other Python-to-EXE tools due to the inclusion of the Python runtime and potentially other dependencies.
  • Complexity in Debugging
    Debugging compiled executables can be more complex compared to interpreted Python scripts, as it might require additional tools and strategies to trace errors effectively.
  • Resource-Intensive Compilation
    The process of converting Python scripts to C and then compiling them can be resource-intensive, requiring considerable system resources, which might be a limitation on less powerful machines.
  • Limited Python Versions
    While Nuitka supports many versions of Python, it may not always immediately support the latest Python features and changes when a new Python version is released.

PyInstaller features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    PyInstaller supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing developers to create executables for multiple platforms from a single codebase.
  • Single Executable
    PyInstaller can bundle a Python application and all its dependencies into a single executable, simplifying distribution as users do not need to install Python separately.
  • Easy to Use
    PyInstaller has straightforward commands and a simple configuration process, making it accessible even for those with limited experience in creating executables.
  • Customizable
    PyInstaller provides various options for customization, allowing developers to specify which files to include or exclude, add data files, and more.
  • Active Community
    PyInstaller benefits from an active community that contributes to its development and provides support through forums and other platforms.

Possible disadvantages of PyInstaller

  • Executable Size
    The executable files generated by PyInstaller can be large since they include the Python interpreter and all dependencies, which may not be ideal for applications with size constraints.
  • Compatibility Issues
    While PyInstaller supports many third-party Python packages, some packages may not work out of the box, requiring additional configuration or adjustments.
  • Occasional Bugs
    Like any software tool, PyInstaller can have bugs, especially with new or less common Python features, which may require troubleshooting or code workarounds.
  • Limited Optimization
    The executables produced by PyInstaller may not be as optimized in terms of performance as those created by more complex methods or tools specifically designed for performance enhancements.
  • Dynamic Module Loading
    Handling dynamic imports can be challenging with PyInstaller, requiring developers to manually specify hidden imports to ensure all dependencies are included.

nuitka videos

Nuitka the python compiler

More videos:

  • Review - #172: Nuitka: A full Python compiler
  • Review - Kay Hayen on Nuitka

PyInstaller videos

Archivo ejecutable en Python | Windows| PyInstaller |PyQT5| Python | ¡Muy fácil!

More videos:

  • Review - python hack #8 reverse shell espionage cmd fichier py en exe pyinstaller part2
  • Review - python hack #8 reverse shell espionage cmd fichier py en exe pyinstaller part1

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to nuitka and PyInstaller)
Website Builder
52 52%
48% 48
Website Design
52 52%
48% 48
CMS
46 46%
54% 54
Programming Language
68 68%
32% 32

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

nuitka might be a bit more popular than PyInstaller. We know about 39 links to it since March 2021 and only 31 links to PyInstaller. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

nuitka mentions (39)

  • Cosmopolitan v3.5.0
    You can probably generate C code from Python now with Nuitka and pump that into this Cosmopolitan tool, today, to get that? https://nuitka.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Ruby: A great language for shell scripts
    You could try Nuitka [1], but I don't have enough experience with it to say if it's any less brittle than PyInstaller. [1]: https://nuitka.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • PyPy has been working for me for several years now
    Nuitka is actively maintained and support for 2.6 and 2.7. It is the work of a single guy, and I have never used it, so I don't know much about it. https://nuitka.net/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Python Is Portable
    This is a good place to mention https://nuitka.net/ which aims to compile python programs into standalone binaries. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • We are under DDoS attack and we do nothing
    For Python, you could make a proper deployment binary using Nuitka (in standalone mode – avoid onefile mode for this). I'm not pretending it's as easy as building a Go executable: you may have to do some manual hacking for more unusual unusual packages, and I don't think you can cross compile. I think a key element you're getting at is that Go executables have very few dependencies on OS packages, but with Python... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
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PyInstaller mentions (31)

  • Cosmopolitan v3.5.0
    Looking forward toward somebody hooking together Python in APE [0], something like pex [1]/shiv[2]/pyinstaller[3], and the pants build system [4] to have a toolchain which spits out single-file python executables with baked-in venv and portable across mainstream OSes with native (or close enough) performance. 0 - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40040342 2 - https://shiv.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ 3 -... - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Playable Sandbox Now Available
    Normally games made with pygame are not playable from the web. They can only be run from the command line or use PyInstaller or cx_Freeze to create a standalone executable. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Python GUIs
    I have found PyInstaller [1] to work well for packaging everything into a single ZIP file that unzips to a folder with an executable binary and all accompanying files (or even a single EXE file that self-extracts when run, but that increases startup time). It knows how to package PyQt and its associated Qt libraries (or PySide, which I actually prefer) so that they can be shipped with your application. [1... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Advice on turning tcod python game into something I can share with others?
    PyInstaller is the main way to build a Python executable. I'd recommenced bundling your program in the default one-folder mode and uploading it to Itch. Source: about 2 years ago
  • What's the best way to ship a Python script?
    There are tools, not from Python Software Foundation (or officially supported by them), such as Pyinstaller, that will try to produce a single executable file that you can distribute for people to install. Of course, this would depend on the controls on the end user devices allowing such an installation. There can be some compatibility challenges, but if you are using reasonably standard Python it shall probably... Source: about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing nuitka and PyInstaller, you can also consider the following products

Cython - Cython is a language that makes writing C extensions for the Python language as easy as Python...

cx_Freeze - cx_Freeze is a set of scripts and modules for freezing Python scripts into executables in much the...

py2exe - A distutils extension to create standalone Windows programs from Python scripts.

Inno Setup - Inno Setup is a free installer for Windows programs.

Numba - Numba gives you the power to speed up your applications with high performance functions written...

PyPy - PyPy is a fast, compliant alternative implementation of the Python language (2.7.1).