I've written an application using Python and wxPython in Linux. It requires several libraries (ElementTree, wxPython, and Reportlab) as well as the Python interpreter. Most distros come with the Python interpreter, so I'm not worried about that.
I am relatively new to Linux, so my skill at distributing applications under the platform is nonexistent. I have no idea how to distribute my application to Linux users.
As an analogy, I'm trying to create binaries under Linux similar to how py2exe creates binaries under MS Windows. I've heard of something called cxFreeze, but I'm not sure if that's the proper way to distribute binaries for Linux users. I was also looking at RPMs, but I wasn't sure if they were the proper way to distribute binaries either.
I have no idea how to create an "Installer" under Linux. I want to make the application show up under the "Applications::Office" menu item (if my memory serves me correctly). I've seen people use a "setup.py" that they've written to install the application, but I have no idea how to do this.
Also, is there any way that I can add my application to a repository so that users can install it from something like YaST or apt-get?
In summary, here are my three questions:
- How can I create binaries for users under Linux?
- How can I create an "installer" for Linux users (i.e. a setup.py)?
- How can I add my application to a repository?
I am sorry if my questions are vague, but my lack of knowledge in distributing Linux applications limits the specificity of my questions. I would appreciate it if someone could point me towards documentation that could teach me how to do any of the above three things.
EDIT: I just happened to find an example of a setup.py that uses distutils, but I have no idea how to actually use it under Linux. Is it
python setup.py install?
Thanks for the help.