pip install .whl create launchers that are pointing to a "fix address" python.exe, to the opposite of installing from .tar.gz format

Hi all,

I have an issue when installing from a .whl format instead of a .tar format ,on windows. Indeed :

• apparently the .whl format create an executable launcher that point to the FIXED “python.exe” address that unpacked it,
• the .tar format doesn’t do that.

==> as I’m creating an “usb” windows distribution, Winpython, that users do unpack/install (and move) anywhere on their PC, the application.exe doesn’t want to launch on their PC, as it doesn’t find a python in that “not-existing” ‘construction site of the original PC’ place.

==> Is it a bug ?

==> Is it a missing .whl installation option when preparing the “usb” distribution ?

(otherwise, could there be an option when installing the .whl ?)

example:

• pylint.1.4.0.tar.gz creates a working pylint.exe of 65 536 bytes
• pylint-1.4.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl creates a ‘fixed-adress pointing’ pylint.exe of 92 041 bytes

other simpler example:

• pep8-1.5.7.tar.gz creates a working pep8.exe of 65 536 bytes
• pep8-1.5.7-py2.py3-none-any.whl creates a ‘fixed-address pointing’ pep8.exe of 92 029 bytes

typical error message:

D:\result_tests\WinPython-64bit-3.4.2.4_build0\python-3.4.2.amd64>pylint
Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using '"D:\Winpython\basedir34
\build\winpython-3.4.2.amd64\python-3.4.2.amd64\python.exe" "D:\result_tests\Win
Python-64bit-3.4.2.4_build0\python-3.4.2.amd64\Scripts\pylint.exe" '

D:\result_tests\WinPython-64bit-3.4.2.4_build0\python-3.4.2.amd64>

[ankostis]

I’m clarifying the situation in the help of others like me.

If you relocate WinPython base-folder, all wheels containing executables that have been installed manually by the user will fail to start-up with this error:

Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using '"'

To fix it, patch pip like that and re-install affected packages (hand made patch):

++++ <python-dir>/Lib/site-packages/pip/_vendor/distlib/scripts.py#L126
@@ -126, +126 @@
  elif not sysconfig.is_python_build():
-     executable = get_executable()
+     executable = os.path.join(os.path.basename(get_executable()))
  elif in_venv():

Remember to re-apply patch after every reinstalling pip.

[stonebig]

https://github.com/stonebig/winpython/commit/1080831930a1dedaf6a0c3019e7150b46a138357