Publish Python Qt App to Appstore

Introduction

In this guide, we’ll demonstrate how to publish a Python Qt application to App Store using PyInstaller for packaging. We’ll cover the steps from packaging and signing the app, to archiving and ultimately publishing it on the App Store.

Prerequisites

• Apple Developer Account

Step 1: Prepare Your Python Environment

To packet a python app that support MacOS’s Universal 2, you need make sure both python and python QT support Universal 2. I use:

• Python from https://www.python.org/ It supports Universal 2
• PySide6 (PYQT6 will return error when packeting app)

Step 2: PyInstaller’s spec file

You need to have a spec file to tell PyInstaller how to pack the app. Here is an example:

a = Analysis(
    ['main.py'],
    pathex=[],
    binaries=[],
    datas=['Any_Data'],
    hiddenimports=[],
    hookspath=[],
    hooksconfig={},
    runtime_hooks=[],
    excludes=[],
    noarchive=True,
)
pyz = PYZ(a.pure)

exe = EXE(
    pyz,
    a.scripts,
    [('v', None, 'OPTION')],
    exclude_binaries=True,
    name='Output_Bin_Name',
    debug=False,
    bootloader_ignore_signals=False,
    strip=False,
    upx=True,
    console=False,
    disable_windowed_traceback=False,
    argv_emulation=False,
    target_arch="universal2",
    codesign_identity=None,
    entitlements_file='./entitlements.plist',
)
coll = COLLECT(
    exe,
    a.binaries,
    a.datas,
    strip=False,
    upx=True,
    upx_exclude=[],
    name='Output_Bin_Name',
)
app = BUNDLE(
    coll,
    name='You_APP_Name.app',
    icon='Your_APP_Logo.icns',
    bundle_identifier='com.xxxx.xxxx',
    info_plist={Convert_info.plist_to_JSON})

Step 3: Entitlements file

To publish the App to AppStore You must enable sandbox mode. Also include the necessary permissions(just for my App).

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
	<key>com.apple.security.app-sandbox</key>
	<true/>
	<key>com.apple.security.files.user-selected.read-write</key>
	<true/>
	<key>com.apple.security.files.bookmarks.app-scope</key>
	<true/>
</dict>
</plist>

Step 4: Pack the python files using PyInstaller

/usr/local/bin/python3 -m PyInstaller ./app.spec

Step 5: Sign the app

You need use the “3rd Party Mac Developer Application” to sign the app. Here is the command:

codesign --force --timestamp --options=runtime --deep --sign "3rd Party Mac Developer Application: XXXXXXX LLC (123456789)" --entitlements "./app.entitlements" "./dist/You_APP_Name.app"

Step 6: Archive the signed pkg installer

To publish the app to App Store, you need to archive the pkg installer file with “3rd Party Mac Developer Installer” cart.

productbuild --component "./dist/You_APP_Name.app" /Applications "package.pkg" --sign "3rd Party Mac Developer Installer: XXXXXXX LLC (123456789)"

Step 7: Submit the pkg app using Transporter for Review