WinPython (programming environment)

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Midas
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WinPython (programming environment)

#1 Post by Midas »

[Mod note: this post about WinPython was split from the "Everything Python" topic at viewtopic.php?t=21839]


Next up is WinPython (http://winpython.github.io/, also suggested by freakzoid). WinPython is a modular Python distribution; for a list of packages included see sf.net/p/winpython/wiki/PackageIndex_27/ and sf.net/p/winpython/wiki/PackageIndex_33/.
WinPython is a free open-source portable distribution of the Python programming language for Windows Vista/7/8 and scientific and educational usage. It is a full-featured Python-based scientific environment. [...] WinPython is a portable application, so the user should not expect any integration into Windows explorer during installation. However, the WinPython Control Panel allows to "register" your distribution to Windows.
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WinPython latest releases are v2.7.9.1, v3.3.5.4, and v3.4.2.3 (FYI, multiple versions correspond to the underlying Python core version) and can be downloaded in discreet 32 or 64 bit packages from http://winpython.github.io/.

Note that WinPython doesn't officially support Windows XP anymore, but there's a workaround in the documentation -- see github.com /winpython/winpython/wiki/Installation#windows-xp.

Sofpedia's review of WinPython can be found at www.softpedia.com /get/Programming/Coding-languages-Compilers/WinPython.shtml.

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Midas
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Re: WinPython (programming environment)

#2 Post by Midas »

Topic update: WinPython v3.8/.9(!) 2020-05 released 2020-12-28 (changelog at https://github.com/winpython/winpython/releases).

Portability info:
The WinPython folder can be moved to any location (local, network, USB drive) with most of the application settings.

WinPython lives entirely in its own directory, without any OS installation.

WinPython is a portable application, so the user should not expect any integration into Windows explorer during installation. However, the WinPython Control Panel allows to "register" your distribution to Windows.

WinPython package downloads also available from https://sourceforge.net/projects/winpython/files/.

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Midas
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Re: WinPython (programming environment)

#3 Post by Midas »

Follow-up on WinPython portability.

While testing WinPython ('WinPython64-3.8.7.0dot') under Windows 10, I got a couple less than optimal results:

- Settings were saved to 'WinPython_x\settings\winpython.ini' as noted in documentation (github.com/winpython/winpython/wiki/Installation#settings), but most options were either disabled/commented.

- WinPython throws an error when invoking either 'WinPython Command Prompt.exe' or 'WinPython Control Panel.exe', because Windows Scripting Host is disabled (see below); 'WinPython Powershell Prompt.exe' throws a CMD windows for a second with a similar message, but apparently works OK after that.

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- Traces were left in '%APPDATA%\Python\Python38\site-packages' (empty folder) and 'LOCALAPPDATA\pip' (likely cached files from the pip installer) -- this could (or not) be related to a previous issue regarding portability: https://github.com/winpython/winpython/issues/839.

As the time has come to make WinPython work for me, I will keep posting further findings.

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Midas
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Re: WinPython (programming environment)

#4 Post by Midas »

In trying to find a possible workaround the WSH issue above -- which I haven't managed up to now -- I found a related but unheard of portability resource: PScript.

It appears to have been abandoned and is 32-bit only, but has source and binaries still available, which I reckon makes it worthy of mention here at TPFC.

PScript was developed for use in running "portable" software in conjunction with a launcher utility such as my own PockeTop Portable Desktop. Such software is typically carried from computer to computer on a removeable medium such as a CD-ROM, USB drive, or floppy disk. Normally for software to run "portably" it should be written and packaged such that it does not need to modify system state on the host computer in order to run. For example such programs should not require COM registration or otherwise alter the system registry.

[...]

PScript is a portable script host you can use instead of WSH's CScript and WScript hosts.


FYI, in the unlikely event someone will be interested enough to research (and ideally update) PScript, I copied the included documentation file (with some light additional formatting) to https://rentry.co/pscript_doc to make it a little more accessible.

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Midas
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Re: WinPython (programming environment)

#5 Post by Midas »

Another day, another step towards a truly portable WinPython:

- After manually enabling WSH (check both 'HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Script Host\Settings' and
'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Script Host\Settings' and change any 'Enabled' key from "0" to "1"); and

- Changing 'winpython.ini' in the settings sub-folder to point to the right paths (see example below);

'WinPython Command Prompt.exe' finally ran with no error, reporting one file successfully copied.

Code: Select all

[%HOME]\settings\pydistutils.cfg
1 File(s) copied

'WinPython Control Panel.exe' still doesn't run. Anyway, here's the current content of my 'winpython.ini':

Code: Select all

[debug]
state = disabled

[environment]
HOME = [Placed WinPython folder absolute path here]
USERPROFILE = %HOME%
WINPYWORKDIR = %HOME%\Notebooks

freakazoid
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Re: WinPython (programming environment)

#6 Post by freakazoid »

It's possible to run WinPython from the bash that comes with Git for Windows.

Here's the magic sauce: https://github.com/winpython/winpython/ ... -455931576. Basically, running WinPython's scripts/env.bat in your bash launcher script will allow you to use python with bash.
is it stealth? ;)

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