Portable - what does this mean? Programs marked Portable

Among the computer software portable-programs occupy if not the leading position, then at least one of the first places. This is due not only to the convenience of using and launching from any storage medium, but also to the convenience of transportation in terms of what the program can be written to a disk or a regular flash drive. So, let's try to understand the main theme "Portable soft - what is this?". Understanding this is always useful, especially for saving disk space, reducing the consumption of system resources and even when restoring the system after virus attacks.

Portable: what does this mean?

To begin with, let's define the term itself, logically based on the translation of the word from the English language. In this case, the translation and interpretation of the concept of what a portable version of the program is, we use with reference to computer systems.

Generally speaking, portable means a portable (portable, portable, stand-alone) program that can be stored on any removable storage medium and does not require installation on a hard drive of a computer or laptop to run or operate. The advantages of such applications are obvious.

The difference between portable versions from installed applications

To consider this question, we give some initial conditions. So, we have a portable version. What this means in terms of standard methods of installing and using the application is easy to understand on a simple example.

Probably, there is no need to explain that in the standard version a special file, usually called Setup.exe, is usually provided for the installation of the software product in the computer system, the launch of which causes the installation process, which involves unpacking and copying the main program modules to the hard disk of the computer, The executable file for launching the main application, additional dynamic libraries, databases used in the work, and even virtual device drivers that can be used as a con rollers. A vivid example of such a controller can serve as a driver for virtual "gadgets" for guitarists Guitar Rig.

Now consider the main question: what is portable soft. Unlike the installed programs and applications, portable software packages do not require installation on the hard drive. They are run using a single executable file with the extension .exe, which is located in the program folder. For example, if the appropriate conditions are specified, the same data loaders from torrent trackers can immediately unpack the archive files to disk as a new directory with the same name of the downloaded torrent. It only remains to enter the desired folder and run the appropriate file to get started.

Composition of the portable package

What is the portable version with respect to what the composition of the components necessary for the launch and correct operation of any portable application can be, we will try to understand now.

Serious software products can not consist of just one program startup file. It requires a lot of additional components (the same DLL or database).

Naturally, the versions of applications in their composition can differ very much. It does not matter that the version of the package indicates that this is the version of Portable. What does this mean in terms of data content? Immediately it is worthwhile to say that such packages are much smaller in size than even similar installation distributions.

Not to mention the above components, it can be noted that there are quite interesting programs presented in the form of a single file. What's most interesting, it's not always a file with the extension .exe (executable-file). There are many options in the form of self-extracting archives or Java-applications. They are started, provided that the system initially installed the necessary basic programs and platforms.

So, for example, the bootloader from the popular file-sharing company DepositeFiles called DF Manager is generally represented as a file with the extension .jar, which allows to use it in both mobile and computer systems (Java platform support is required).

How portable programs work

I think it is already clear that the principle of portable applications and applications is fundamentally different from the fixed software products installed in the system. The fact is that during the standard installation, not only all the main components are copied to the hard disk. The corresponding entries in the system registry are also produced (without this the "application" application simply will not accept).

Here comes the portable version. What does this mean by using the registry? Everything is simple enough. As you can see, the installation is not needed. Accordingly, the program at startup does not create keys in the registry (even if it creates, it creates temporary ones, which are automatically deleted at the end of the work).

The advantages are obvious: the system is not loaded, and other applications are launched quickly enough. In general, the portable program takes up at least the same memory in the same RAM, and in general does not affect the CPU load in most cases.

Where to use portable applications

Areas where portable versions of programs are used can be listed for a very long time. The most popular in this regard are applications for downloading files, boot-managers for operating systems, anti-virus scanners, optimizers, etc. There are even full-fledged graphic and music packages.

Operating system emulators

Programs that can emulate a full-fledged "operating system" with all its functions are almost the most in demand. In case of system failures, such boot-managers play a primary role. Not only do they allow you to install the system, which is called "from scratch", such applications are also capable of recreating a kind of OS with support for the disks and drivers used.

Suppose we have a disk with a boot manager version and a Windows 7 emulator version of Portable. What does it mean? Means this is that a practically complete system will be downloaded to the computer and will allow to use if not all, then most of its functions. Typically, these applications run either from an optical disk, or from a flash drive.

Pay attention to the BIOS, where the appropriate boot priority (Boot Priority / First Boot Device / CD / DVD or USB) should be indicated. The names of the partitions and commands depending on the manufacturer of the BIOS may vary, but it does not change the essence.

Antivirus and diagnostic tools

Anti-virus protection is the most popular area for portable applications. If the computer is infected with viruses, the programs themselves, running "operating systems" (stationary ones), can not always perform a full scan. In particular, this applies to startup items. In other words, at the start of the OS there may be threats, but the antivirus does not delete them if it does.

Another thing is when the portable version of the antivirus starts before the OS starts. Using the Kaspersky Rescue Disc application as an example, you can see that the utility starts from a disk or USB flash drive before Windows starts.

At the same time, the program is able to detect and remove threats in RAM, boot sectors, not to mention other threats in the application cache or in e-mail. Note that after loading the Windows operating system, such actions can be simply impossible. In most cases, this utility allows you to restore the system to work when other tools are powerless.

How to create a portable version of the application

If we talk about how to make a portable version of a program of any type, you should not flatter yourself. It is impossible to create such a package from professional applications. But for lower-level programs, this technique is applicable.

Some advise to create files like Uninstall before creating. At once we will tell: it is not necessary (whether a little, can, then it is necessary "to take down" the program from the computer).

But this is not the main thing. You can use specialized utilities to create portable versions of the Thinstall Virtualization type, or you can do even easier using the usual WinRAR archiver.

The whole procedure is to use the SFX archive creation button, and then select the "Create continuous archive" command.

Then, in the archive parameters, the path "In the current folder" is specified, and then you should go to the "Modes" tab with the "Unpack to temporary folder" command, where the "Hide all" information line is ticked. Now on the "Text and graphics" tab you can select a logo (icon), if, of course, it is necessary. It remains only to confirm their actions. At the end of the procedure, you will get a portable version that can be copied to a removable media.

A warning!

Not all programs are subject to such procedures. If there is a sufficiently large number of accompanying library files or links to third-party databases in the package itself, it is better not to deal with this (and for a long time, and the purpose of the final package will not justify itself).