Python Standalone Builds

This project produces self-contained, highly portable, high-performance Python distributions. These Python distributions contain a fully usable, full-featured Python installation: most extension modules from the Python standard library are present, and their library dependencies are either distributed with the distribution or are statically linked.

The Python distributions are built in a manner to minimize run-time dependencies. This includes limiting the CPU instructions that can be used and limiting the set of shared libraries required at run-time. The goal is for the produced distribution to work on any system for the targeted architecture.

The builds incorporate compiler optimizations such as profile-guided optimization (PGO), link-time optimization (LTO), and, where appropriate, BOLT post-link binary optimization. Together, these techniques improve runtime performance while preserving portability.

The most common method of using these distributions is with uv.

To run a particular distribution using uv:

uvx --managed-python python

A Python version or another specifier can be included:

uvx --managed-python python@3.13
uvx --managed-python python@3.14+freethreaded

Indices and tables