try including MSVC runtime DLLs

build/build_utils.py

@@ -175,6 +175,23 @@ def get_pyinstaller_args(platform: str) -> Tuple[List[str], List[str]]:
             "--version-file=Auto-Wall.spec.version" if Path("Auto-Wall.spec.version").exists() else None,
         ])
         base_args = [arg for arg in base_args if arg is not None]
+
+        # Bundle MSVC runtime DLLs so the exe is truly standalone.
+        # PyInstaller excludes these by default, causing DLL errors on machines
+        # without the VC++ redistributable installed.
+        import os
+        _msvc_dlls = [
+            'VCRUNTIME140.dll',
+            'VCRUNTIME140_1.dll',
+            'MSVCP140.dll',
+            'MSVCP140_1.dll',
+            'MSVCP140_2.dll',
+        ]
+        sysroot = os.environ.get('SystemRoot', r'C:\Windows')
+        for _dll in _msvc_dlls:
+            _path = os.path.join(sysroot, 'System32', _dll)
+            if os.path.exists(_path):
+                base_args.append(f'--add-binary={_path}{separator}.')
 
     elif platform == "macos":
         base_args.extend([

build/platforms/windows.py

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 """
 
 import shutil
+import urllib.request
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import List
 
@@ -11,6 +12,9 @@
     ensure_directory
 )
 
+VCREDIST_URL = "https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe"
+VCREDIST_FILENAME = "vc_redist.x64.exe"
+
 
 class WindowsBuilder:
     """Windows platform builder"""
@@ -38,32 +42,24 @@ def build_all(self, executable_path: Path) -> List[tuple]:
         return results
 
     def create_zip_distribution(self, executable_path: Path) -> Path:
-        """Create a ZIP distribution with executable and resources"""
+        """Create a ZIP distribution with the standalone executable"""
         print_status("Creating ZIP distribution...")
 
-        # Create temporary directory for ZIP contents
         zip_dir = Path("Auto-Wall-Windows")
         if zip_dir.exists():
             shutil.rmtree(zip_dir)
-
         zip_dir.mkdir()
 
-        # Copy executable
         shutil.copy2(executable_path, zip_dir / "Auto-Wall.exe")
 
-        # Copy documentation
         for doc_file in ["README.md", "LICENSE"]:
             doc_path = Path(doc_file)
             if doc_path.exists():
                 shutil.copy2(doc_path, zip_dir / doc_file)
 
-        # Create ZIP file
         zip_name = f"Auto-Wall-{self.version}-Windows"
         zip_path = self.dist_path / f"{zip_name}.zip"
-
         shutil.make_archive(str(self.dist_path / zip_name), 'zip', str(zip_dir))
-
-        # Clean up
         shutil.rmtree(zip_dir)
 
         if zip_path.exists():