Getting started

Note

This batch isn’t by default meant for compiling, however it provides commands to download one of GCC of MSVC tools that can be used for compiling later.

KivyInstaller works with pip and gets Kivy from .whl files. It supports 32bit and 64bit Python versions, so you can easily download the one you need.

The complete installation of Python with Kivy master branch takes approximately 3 minutes (even less!) of automated process. This video will surely convince you.

Of course the installation highly depends on your machine, internet speed and connection.

Defaults

  • Python versions 2.7.13, 3.5.2
  • kivy-master 1.10.1
  • kivy-stable is from pypi

Since version 3.3 you are able to change the defaults from the console before actually running the kivy.bat script this way:

set cp3=cp35      # or cp34 or cp36
set cp2=cp27      # shouldn't be necessary to change
set py3=3.5.2     # check on python website if the version exists!
set py2=2.7.13    # same here
set master=1.10.1 # check on Kivy installation page for Windows

or change them freely inside the batch file if you need. Kivy master version shouldn’t really need to be changed anyway as I’ll switch manually the value when there’s a new version for master branch.

Admin installation catch

With MSI installers there’s one catch. Each of them has a Product code for various reasons. For KivyInstaller it means you can install Python from the same installer that requires admin rights only once.

MSI basically creates some stuff in registry for your Python installation including copy-pasting its Product code. With each attempt to install with the same installer it looks for the Product code in registry before installing, therefore if the same Product code is found, it’ll behave as a repair / remove tool for your Python.

Note

There’s an option to change Product code with some free tools and install Python manually with modified .msi.

Multiple Pythons

Product code of MSI installers doesn’t affect having Python 2 and Python 3 at the same time in separate folders.

Using lower / higher version is a workaround for the MSI catch, i.e. if 2.7.11 is installed, the another allowed version would be for example 2.7.10.

You have to change the version in kivy.bat’s variable directly.

Non-admin installation

When installation without admin rights is chosen, there is no limitation for the same Python version on a single OS, yet a glitch may appear during the installation such as leaving some Python stuff inside kivy folder.

If the files / folders left behind are only Doc or tcl, just copy&paste them. Otherwise remove everything except kivy.bat and .msi, then reinstall.

Note

It may occur that MSI installer becames broken for non-admin type of installation. In this case the installer needs to be completely removed and redownloaded.

Warning

This type of installation since Python 3.5.0 leaves a trace in Programs and Features as a casual installed application, but doesn’t require admin privileges. When this issue is fixed, the warning will be removed.