diff --git a/.claude/settings.local.json b/.claude/settings.local.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f315077
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.claude/settings.local.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "permissions": {
+    "allow": [
+      "Bash(python:*)"
+    ],
+    "deny": [],
+    "ask": []
+  }
+}
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 36aec7c..d3ff5c1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -26,6 +26,17 @@ A Python GUI application for generating and playing interactive word search puzz
 
 ## Installation
 
+### Option 1: Download Pre-built Application (Recommended)
+
+Download the pre-built application for your platform from the releases page:
+- **Windows**: `WordSearch.exe`
+- **macOS**: `WordSearch.app`
+- **Linux**: `WordSearch` (executable)
+
+No installation required - just download and run!
+
+### Option 2: Run from Source
+
 1. Clone the repository:
 ```bash
 git clone https://git.firebugit.com/ksmith/WordSearch.git
@@ -34,12 +45,19 @@ cd WordSearch
 
 2. Install required dependencies:
 ```bash
-pip install reportlab
+pip install -r requirements.txt
 ```
 
 ## Usage
 
-Run the application:
+### Running the Application
+
+**From pre-built executable:**
+- **Windows**: Double-click `WordSearch.exe`
+- **macOS**: Double-click `WordSearch.app` or run `open WordSearch.app`
+- **Linux**: Run `./WordSearch` from terminal
+
+**From source:**
 ```bash
 python word_search_generator.py
 ```
@@ -86,6 +104,48 @@ python word_search_generator.py
 - ReportLab for PDF generation
 - Event-driven architecture for mouse interactions
 
+## Building from Source
+
+To create standalone executables for distribution:
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+Install build dependencies:
+```bash
+pip install -r requirements.txt
+```
+
+### Building
+
+**Linux/macOS:**
+```bash
+./build.sh
+```
+
+**Windows:**
+```cmd
+build.bat
+```
+
+The built application will be in the `dist/` directory:
+- **Linux**: `dist/WordSearch`
+- **macOS**: `dist/WordSearch.app`
+- **Windows**: `dist/WordSearch.exe`
+
+### Manual Build
+
+You can also build manually using PyInstaller:
+```bash
+pyinstaller word_search.spec
+```
+
+### Cross-Platform Notes
+
+- PyInstaller creates platform-specific executables
+- Build on the target platform (Windows build requires Windows, etc.)
+- macOS builds create an `.app` bundle
+- Linux/Windows builds create a single executable file
+
 ## License
 
 Created by Keith Smith
diff --git a/build.bat b/build.bat
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d91fb0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build.bat
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+@echo off
+REM Build script for Word Search application (Windows)
+
+echo =========================================
+echo Word Search Application Builder
+echo =========================================
+echo.
+
+REM Check if PyInstaller is installed
+pyinstaller --version >nul 2>&1
+if %errorlevel% neq 0 (
+    echo PyInstaller not found. Installing dependencies...
+    pip install -r requirements.txt
+)
+
+REM Clean previous builds
+echo Cleaning previous builds...
+if exist build rmdir /s /q build
+if exist dist rmdir /s /q dist
+
+echo Building for platform: Windows
+echo.
+
+REM Build the application
+echo Running PyInstaller...
+pyinstaller word_search.spec
+
+REM Check if build was successful
+if exist dist (
+    echo.
+    echo =========================================
+    echo Build completed successfully!
+    echo =========================================
+    echo.
+    echo Platform: Windows
+    echo Output location: dist\
+    echo Executable: dist\WordSearch.exe
+    echo.
+    echo To run: dist\WordSearch.exe
+) else (
+    echo.
+    echo Build failed! Check the error messages above.
+    exit /b 1
+)
diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..cd663c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Build script for Word Search application
+# This script builds the application for the current platform
+
+echo "========================================="
+echo "Word Search Application Builder"
+echo "========================================="
+echo ""
+
+# Check if PyInstaller is installed
+if ! command -v pyinstaller &> /dev/null; then
+    echo "PyInstaller not found. Installing dependencies..."
+    pip install -r requirements.txt
+fi
+
+# Clean previous builds
+echo "Cleaning previous builds..."
+rm -rf build dist
+
+# Detect platform
+if [[ "$OSTYPE" == "linux-gnu"* ]]; then
+    PLATFORM="Linux"
+    OUTPUT_NAME="WordSearch"
+elif [[ "$OSTYPE" == "darwin"* ]]; then
+    PLATFORM="macOS"
+    OUTPUT_NAME="WordSearch.app"
+elif [[ "$OSTYPE" == "msys" ]] || [[ "$OSTYPE" == "cygwin" ]] || [[ "$OSTYPE" == "win32" ]]; then
+    PLATFORM="Windows"
+    OUTPUT_NAME="WordSearch.exe"
+else
+    PLATFORM="Unknown"
+    OUTPUT_NAME="WordSearch"
+fi
+
+echo "Building for platform: $PLATFORM"
+echo ""
+
+# Build the application
+echo "Running PyInstaller..."
+pyinstaller word_search.spec
+
+# Check if build was successful
+if [ -d "dist" ]; then
+    echo ""
+    echo "========================================="
+    echo "Build completed successfully!"
+    echo "========================================="
+    echo ""
+    echo "Platform: $PLATFORM"
+    echo "Output location: dist/"
+
+    if [[ "$PLATFORM" == "macOS" ]]; then
+        echo "Application: dist/WordSearch.app"
+        echo ""
+        echo "To run: open dist/WordSearch.app"
+    elif [[ "$PLATFORM" == "Linux" ]]; then
+        echo "Executable: dist/WordSearch"
+        echo ""
+        echo "To run: ./dist/WordSearch"
+        chmod +x dist/WordSearch
+    else
+        echo "Executable: dist/WordSearch.exe"
+        echo ""
+        echo "To run: dist\\WordSearch.exe"
+    fi
+else
+    echo ""
+    echo "Build failed! Check the error messages above."
+    exit 1
+fi
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..476b941
--- /dev/null
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+reportlab>=4.0.0
+pyinstaller>=6.0.0
diff --git a/word_search.spec b/word_search.spec
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cf33f52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/word_search.spec
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+# -*- mode: python ; coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+block_cipher = None
+
+a = Analysis(
+    ['word_search_generator.py'],
+    pathex=[],
+    binaries=[],
+    datas=[],
+    hiddenimports=[],
+    hookspath=[],
+    hooksconfig={},
+    runtime_hooks=[],
+    excludes=[],
+    win_no_prefer_redirects=False,
+    win_private_assemblies=False,
+    cipher=block_cipher,
+    noarchive=False,
+)
+
+pyz = PYZ(a.pure, a.zipped_data, cipher=block_cipher)
+
+exe = EXE(
+    pyz,
+    a.scripts,
+    a.binaries,
+    a.zipfiles,
+    a.datas,
+    [],
+    name='WordSearch',
+    debug=False,
+    bootloader_ignore_signals=False,
+    strip=False,
+    upx=True,
+    upx_exclude=[],
+    runtime_tmpdir=None,
+    console=False,  # No console window
+    disable_windowed_traceback=False,
+    argv_emulation=False,
+    target_arch=None,
+    codesign_identity=None,
+    entitlements_file=None,
+)
+
+# macOS app bundle
+app = BUNDLE(
+    exe,
+    name='WordSearch.app',
+    icon=None,
+    bundle_identifier='com.firebugit.wordsearch',
+)