build an EXE bundle for windows

[ssube]

The setup experience is not the best right now, especially on Windows. There are some tools, like https://pyinstaller.org/en/stable/index.html, that can bundle a Python runtime and modules into a single EXE or folder with an EXE.

• make sure all necessary files and folders are created or included
  • extras.json
  • params.json
  • models
  • outputs
  • gfpgan stuff: missing directories for GFPGAN when using Windows bundle #315
• script/automate building the bundle
  • build the bundle
  • upload to nexus server

[ssube]

This seems to be working, using PyInstaller and https://github.com/ssube/onnx-web/blob/main/exe/win10.directml.dir.spec, and I'm working on uploading the bundle and writing docs.

[ForserX]

I can offer you the following: to build a startup file on the same C++ with the ability to install dependencies, if there are none, and to run with a commandline.

[ssube]

What do you have in mind? We should chat. The bundle that I was able to build with PyInstaller runs as a commandline, but it doesn't install any dependencies.

I've been looking through the options that are available for this, https://pypi.org/project/tufup/ looks interesting but has some setup and requires code changes, where as an installer like NSIS or Inno does not require code changes and could help with updates. I would like something that I can run during CI, the npm and pip packages are fully automated, but I don't have a Windows CI box at the moment. I've been considering moving to Github Actions, which could help with that, but requires some other work.

[ForserX]

Okay. Come on, I'll try to write you a small C++ script over the weekend, which will run at least under FreeBSD. I'll leave with examples of how and what to edit.

[ssube]

I know some C++, enough to be dangerous, and my only concern with it would be debugging - building and bundling that should not be too hard.

I've been debating if/how to package things for Linux. I am familiar with building apt and rpm packages, but I don't really want to run a repository for those. Windows has too many options.

[ssube]

I have a v0.10 release candidate bundle, which has a few warnings/errors:

• missing directories for GFPGAN when using Windows bundle #315
• codeformer import error with PyTorch 2.x