title: How can I convert a .py to .exe for Python?
body: <p>I'm trying to convert a fairly simple Python program to an executable and couldn't find what I was looking for, so I have a few questions (I'm running Python 3.6):</p>
  <p>The methods of doing this that I have found so far are as follows</p>
  <ol>
  <li>downloading an old version of Python and using <code>pyinstaller/py2exe</code></li>
  <li>setting up a virtual environment in Python 3.6 that will allow me to do 1.</li>
  <li>downloading a Python to C++ converter and using that.</li>
  </ol>
  <p>Here is what I've tried/what problems I've run into.</p>
  <ul>
  <li>I installed <code>pyinstaller</code> before the required download before it (pypi-something) so it did not work. After downloading the prerequisite file, <code>pyinstaller</code> still does not recognize it.</li>
  <li>If I'm setting up a virtualenv in Python 2.7, do I actually need to have Python 2.7 installed?</li>
  <li>similarly, the only python to C++ converters I see work only up until Python 3.5 - do I need to download and use this version if attempting this?</li>
  </ul>