The word portable isn't limited to architecture. If you've ever tried to build software with Python and distribute it in a simple way (a-la go, or a Java .jar) it's not easy. This (and others mentioned below, like PEX) aim to make shipping Python app "binaries" around simple, regardless of OS or system Python presence

It IS easy. You can just tell people to `pip install --user your_app` and use it (might need $PATH correction). All Linux distros ship with Python, and if pip is not available, it can be installed easily.

Or you can build and ship .rpm/.deb packages if you feel like it.

Things like py2exe have been around for ages. I was more wondering if this was better or same thing for Linux.

I was thinking the same but I'm assuming that it's designed to be portable but not yet implemented on other platforms.