What is PEX? build with Docker image... e.g. Ubuntu 14.04 $ docker run --rm -it -v $PWD:/src -w /src ubuntu:14.04 Install PEX ubuntu14# apt update && apt -y install python3 python3-pip && pip3 install pex Build aws.pex ubuntu14# pex -r <(echo awscli) -c 'aws' -o aws.pex Exit Container ubuntu14# exit aws.pex works just like the regular CLI $ docker run --rm -it -v $PWD:/src -w /src ubuntu:14.04 ./aws.pex --version aws-cli/1.15.76 Python/3.4.3 Linux/4.9.93-linuxkit-aufs botocore/1.10.75 Copy aws.pex to any Ubuntu 14.04 which doesn't have Python or PIP installed scp aws.pex ubuntu.example.com Install and symlink sudo mv aws.pex /usr/local/bin sudo ln -s aws.pex /usr/local/bin/aws