pyshortcuts
Create desktop and Start Menu shortcuts for python scripts
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. Pyshortcuts solves a genuine cross-platform problem with low install friction, active maintenance, no security vulnerabilities, and permissive licensing. It is production-stable and suitable for both direct use and integration into larger installation workflows. Install it if you need to create desktop shortcuts for Python scripts or applications across multiple operating systems.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- On Windows, pywin32 is automatically installed.
- The optional wxPython GUI requires separate installation (pip install wxPython).
- Low friction: pure Python wheel with only three runtime dependencies (tabulate, charset-normalizer, pywin32).
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution in both open-source and commercial projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2026-05-13 (93 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-09 · 128 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 120,024 downloads/mo, #12,046 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pyshortcuts
from pyshortcuts import make_shortcut
make_shortcut('/path/to/script.py', name='MyApp', icon='/path/to/icon.ico')- Whether icon format support (.ico, .icns) is consistent across all three platforms or has platform-specific limitations
- Performance characteristics when creating shortcuts for scripts with complex command-line arguments
- Behavior when shortcuts target scripts in virtual environments or non-standard Python installations
What it is and what it does
Pyshortcuts is a pure-Python utility that generates platform-native shortcuts for launching Python scripts and applications. It abstracts away the OS-specific details of shortcut creation—on Windows it generates .lnk files in the Start Menu and Desktop, on macOS it builds minimal application bundles, and on Linux it creates .desktop files in standard application directories. The package includes both a Python API (make_shortcut function) and a command-line tool (pyshortcut), plus an optional wxPython-based GUI for interactive shortcut creation.
The tool is designed for developers who need to package Python applications for end users without requiring elevated permissions or system-level modifications. It handles Anaconda Python specially on Windows to ensure shortcuts run in the correct environment, supports custom icons, and allows shortcuts to be organized into subfolders. After creation, users retain full control to rename, move, or delete shortcuts.
Use it for
- Bundle a Python application with an installer that creates desktop shortcuts automatically during post-installation setup
- Provide end users with clickable desktop launchers for command-line Python tools without requiring terminal knowledge
- Create Start Menu entries for Python GUI applications on Windows with custom icons and descriptions
- Generate platform-specific shortcuts as part of a Python package's installation or deployment workflow
- Build a launcher GUI (using the wxPython interface) that lets non-technical users create shortcuts for their own scripts
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
Pyshortcuts solves a genuine cross-platform problem with low install friction, active maintenance, no security vulnerabilities, and permissive licensing. It is production-stable and suitable for both direct use and integration into larger installation workflows. Install it if you need to create desktop shortcuts for Python scripts or applications across multiple operating systems.
Install
pyshortcuts on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel with only three runtime dependencies (tabulate, charset-normalizer, pywin32). Active maintenance with recent release (93 days ago) and 128 repository stars. Supports Python 3.10 through 3.14.
On Windows, pywin32 is automatically installed. The optional wxPython GUI requires separate installation (pip install wxPython).
License in practice
MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution in both open-source and commercial projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install pyshortcuts
from pyshortcuts import make_shortcut
make_shortcut('/path/to/script.py', name='MyApp', icon='/path/to/icon.ico')Verify before relying
- Whether icon format support (.ico, .icns) is consistent across all three platforms or has platform-specific limitations
- Performance characteristics when creating shortcuts for scripts with complex command-line arguments
- Behavior when shortcuts target scripts in virtual environments or non-standard Python installations
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 3 packagestabulatecharset-normalizerpywin32 |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 93 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 120,024 / month, #12,046 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: End Users/DesktopOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPy |
Evidence: pyshortcuts-1.9.9-py3-none-any.whl
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