Installing winpython : explaining the differences between options #1972

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1. stonebig commented on Jan 11, 2026

   

   stonebig

   on Jan 11, 2026

   Last edited by stonebig

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   Hi,

   on your questions :

   • Why provide a zip , 7z , exe versions ?
     • the "timeless classic" is the exe auto-extract version, with already pre-installed packages, may be hard to trust.
     • the .7z just doesn't include the auto-extract
     • the .zip is for people not wanting an auto-extract and not having a fresh Windows, but it's 60% bigger
   • What is the difference between naked Python and free threaded Python ?
     • free-threaded python is an amazing but painfull transition till Python-3.16
     • as you ask, it means you shall stick to standard Python
   • Which version would you recommand to the average user today ? why ?
     • the "WinPython64-3.13.11.0slim.exe" is the most complete and classic one
     • the "WinPython64-3.14.2.0slim_post1.exe" is young ... wait 6 month-after-python-birth, april 26, for casual user.
   • What's the purpose of installing pandoc with WinPython ?
     • Pandoc.exe is the "swiss army knife" (says Google Geminy) of conversion of documents between Markdown, HTML, LaTeX, Word docx, and PDF)
     • it's used per Jupyterlab "nbconvert" package, if you want special conversions to word or markdown or latex..
   • Is it appropriate to have a slim version of WinPython when the so called slim version seems to be the fatest version available ?
     • it's about 33% less fat than when WinPython was publishing wheels with Torch.
     • those too big wheels are uncheckable per antivirus.com, currently limited to 650 Mo.
2. RivetBenoit commented on Jan 12, 2026

   

   RivetBenoit

   on Jan 12, 2026

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   I feel that these questions should be adressed on https://winpython.github.io/ : any newbie wanting to install WinPython has 16 possible choices. We should provide him enough information about all theses choices in order for him to choose the best version for him. IMHO, your answers about zip/7z, exe, naked vs free threaded Python and the version recommended for the average user should appear directly on https://winpython.github.io/

   Thanks for the explanation about pandoc : I do know that pandoc is a masterpiece conversion app, but I had not figured out that pandoc is included because it can be used by Jupyterlab. I think it could be appropriate to include explanation about pandoc/nbconvert/jupyterlab on https://winpython.github.io/ with an explanation of which version of WinPython include pandoc and how to install pandoc for other versions. However, it may be such a niche question that it does not require explanation on https://winpython.github.io/

   About the slim version : I guess that, since there is no more fat version, we could just rename the WinPython64-whatever.slim.xxx files WinPython64-whatever.xxx.

   About Torch : I think it would be nice to explain :

   Installing Torch with WinPython : including Torch in WinPython would prevent it to be checkedChecks by antivirus.com,
   since antivirus.com is currently limited to 650 Mo, thus trigerring false antivirus alarms.
   The last WinPython release including Torch was Winpython64-3.12.10, release 2025-02 of May 4th, 2025.

   I don't use Torch, so I don't know and I don't care at this point if it can be installed, but if it that's the case, we may add :

   Torch can be installed via (wathever it takes to install Torch)

   Thanks for the explanations and keep up the good work : it's really nice to have such a great Python distribution available !

   ❤️React with ❤️2Reacted by stonebig and Yang Guilong
3. Zwilrich commented on Feb 19, 2026

   

   Zwilrich

   on Feb 19, 2026

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   I would like to see this information in the Install and FAQ sections of the wiki.
4. kklmn commented on May 1, 2026

   

   kklmn

   on May 1, 2026

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   @stonebig Thanks for your answer, but why isn't a short description of the provided distribution files seen right on the front page? Not only that, there is no link to any description page.
5. foolishgrunt commented on May 14, 2026

   

   foolishgrunt

   on May 14, 2026

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   Came here from Google. I also would have appreciated a brief explanation (or a link to one) on the front page
6. stonebig commented on May 16, 2026

   

   stonebig

   on May 16, 2026

   Last edited by stonebig

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   Explanations:

   • the variants "dot"/"slim"/"whl"/...

   Variant	criterias	Description
   'dot'	minimal	nearly zero packages, can be expanded to a "slim" version by a "pip install --no-deps --require-hashes -r requir.64-3_14_2_0slim.txt". will miss pandoc.exe
   'free'	minimal	same as 'dot' variant, but based on the free-threading python, can be expanded to a "slimf" version by a "pip install --no-deps --require-hashes -r requir.64-3_14_2_0slimf.txt". will miss pandoc.exe
   'slim'	complete in the limit of 650Mo	the 'dot' version completed with the pre-intalled wheels of requir.64-3_14_2_0slim.txt and pandoc.exe
   'slimf'	complete in the limit of 650Mo	the 'free' version completed with the pre-intalled wheels of requir.64-3_14_2_0slimf.txt and pandoc.exe. less package than 'slim' as only 90% of packagings have a free-threading version ... and maybe only 80% do work properly.
   'whl'	with pre-downloaded wheels to install, in the limit of 650Mo	the 'dot' version with an added wheelhouse of pre-downloaded wheels, in './wheelhouse', that you can install from. do wppm -md to see them. do wppm -i 'package' to install from there. for example: wppm -i pandas. as the current pypi wheel format is '.zip' is 20% less compact, there are 20% less wheels in 'whl' versus 'slim' variant

   • the delivery variants ".exe"/".7z"/".zip"/"requirement file"/pylock file"

   Variant	criterias	Description
   '.exe'	simplest	the historic way. download the executable, double-click to auto extract, or use the command line. for example: WinPython64-3.14.2.0slim_post1.exe -o C:\winpython_distro -y
   '.7z'	no-pre-execution	same as the '.exe' but not wrapped by the auto-exatracter of 7zip. you have to un-zip yourself. nota: you can also rename the '.exe' version as '.exe.7z' to unzip manually from the '.exe' version
   'zip'	the universal '.zip' format	any un-zipper tool shall work, as '.7z' extracting tools are 7zip or Windows 11 (and 10 ?) only.
   'requirement.txt file'	requirements with hash	get directly the certified wheels from pypi (or elsewhere)
   'pylock.toml file'	pylock with hash	get directly the certified wheels from pypi, as it precises exact origin, hash

   • whys = security:

   Keyword	criterias	Description
   650 Mo	virustotal.com ] virustotal.com only allows to check object of less than 650 Mo
   .7z or .zip	passive un-packing	to avoid stress of clicking on a '.exe'
   'whl'	un-touched-wheels	so you can check it's the original wheels
   'requirement.txt' or 'pylock.toml' file	zero trust packages	so you can install the same environnement as 'WinPython' from your standard python (from Windows Store for example)

   -future:

   • As now pip-26.1.1 can use pylock.toml file, the 'whl' format is no longer a mandatory need
   • as the standard Python installer for Windows will become the "pymanager", a bit like "uv":
     • WinPython 'distro' set is more and more likely to come from a pylock.toml complementary installation
     • so the focus since about a year, on generating pylock.toml files (and requirement.txt files with hash)
   • people with no internet access may still need 'classic' WinPython.
   • jupyterlite and variants becomes a sort of universal "VM", so a WinPython 'requirements" that fit into it shall be next new thing, as uploading wheels for jupyterlite as just been accepted by pypi.org

   comments and remarks ?