Windows Embeddable Python with virtualenv support

The repository contains code to repackage Windows Embeddable version of Python with virtualenv.

What is Windows Embeddable Python?

Windows Embeddable Python is a minimalistic Python distribution suitable for bundling Python inside applications for Windows.

The package is stored in downloads: https://www.python.org/downloads

The name of the package is: Windows x86-64 embeddable zip file

Why is it necessary to repackage ZIP with Embeddable Python?

The official version has the following limitations:

• the package does not contain pip
• the package does not support virtualenv
• resolution of module path behaves slightly different
  • more details: https://dev.to/fpim/setting-up-python-s-windows-embeddable-distribution-properly-1081

How it works

• download and unpack Windows Embeddable Python
• extract content of pythonYY.zip to Lib, remove pythonYY.zip
• remove pythonYY._pth file
  • this file controls behavior of imports when starting Python
• download get-pip.py and install pip
• pip install virtualenv
• download or use full version of python and copy Lib\venv\scripts\nt\*.exe to python bundle
  • during the creation of virtualenv these python.exe and pythonw.exe files are being copied to virtual environment location
  • these two files are different from python.exe and pythonw.exe in the top Python directory

How to build

PowerShell:

.\Bundle-Python.ps1 -PythonVersion 3.8.6

Result Python distribution will be available in python directory.

How to build with GitHub Actions

Check the version of Python in .github/workflow/bundle-python.yaml. Commit the change and check Actions at GitHub.com. Zip file with the result will be available as artifact in build details.