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[feat] [Suggestion] Portable (no-install) version for Windows and Linux #646

@sapioit

Description

@sapioit

Describe the problem

Testing an app without having to install it is nice. But you know what might be nicer? Using the app on devices where you don't have install permissions, like on school PCs, guest PCs, library PCs, PC-Cafe PCs, and so on.

And having the portable version on an USB storage stick, with all the extensions and configurations already set up to your preference, can also help popularize the app.

Describe the solution you'd like

A version of the app, which doesn't require installing. Hence the "portable" (or "no-install") term.

Alternatives considered

Package the app for windows with a .bat file containing the following code, and an .exe with the app's icon made from the .bat file and targeting the correct .exe for Phoenix Desktop (I wouldn't know what that one is, since I'm not installing the app).

::echo PORTABLE APP LAUNCHER v5 by Sapioit

:: Creating Folders inside /sth/_BrowserData
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\ProgramData" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\ProgramData"
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Public" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Public"
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\AppData\Roaming" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\AppData\Roaming"
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Documents" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Documents"
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\AppData\Local\Temp" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\AppData\Local\Temp"
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\ProgramData\Roaming" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\ProgramData\Roaming"
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Desktop" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Desktop"
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Downloads" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Downloads"
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Favorites" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Favorites"
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Links" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Links"
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Music" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Music"
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Pictures" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Pictures"
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Saved Games" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Saved Games"
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Searches" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Searches"
if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Videos" mkdir "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Videos"

:: Setting Env Variables to point to /sth/_BrowserData/$User
set ALLUSERSPROFILE=%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\ProgramData\Roaming
set APPDATA=%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\AppData
set LOCALAPPDATA=%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\AppData\Local
set HOMEPATH=%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User
set ProgramData=%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\ProgramData
set Public=%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Public
set TEMP=%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\AppData\Local\Temp
set TMP=%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\AppData\Local\Temp
set USERPROFILE=%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User

:: Checking for Documents folder (optional check, uncomment if needed)
:: if not exist "%~dp0..\_BrowserData\$User\Documents\" goto message

goto message
goto start

:message
::echo PORTABLE APP LAUNCHER
::echo -------------------------------
::pause 

:start
start phoenix.exe


### Additional context

Installing apps leads to more system-resources usage, which leads to the system slowing down, even if only a bit. Uninstalling apps leads to leftover things, which leads to the system slowing down, when compared to before installing the same apps, even if only a bit.

But while the resource usage usually increases by only a bit, when you stack lots of those "only a bit", you find out that the dozens to hundreds of apps you have installed but don't use, or even uninstalled and expected to be gone, does still slow down your system.

One way to avoid that, is to install only the most critical apps, and for everything else, to use portable apps. Sure, this might lead to using up more space (aka. `increased storage utilization`), but that is the price to pay for the system not being slowed down over time, or, at the very least, for the system not being slowed down as much, over time.

And many people don't have their own PC to install the app on. For example, students might afford a cheap USB stick with a few GB of storage, but not a laptop which can run Windows or Linux, so having their preferred editor on an USB stick is one way to make said editor more popular. And even if they have a PC, be it a desktop or laptop or handheld, being able to take not only their project files with them, but their whole editor, and not having to beg for permission to install it on every single PC the school has, can help the editor to become more popular. And even if they have neither a PC, nor an USB storage stick, being able to download the app and use it without needing to install it, would be a way for students to get familiar with the app, especially since the app can remain on the PC, for others to discover, without having to deal with installing it.

Need I say more? Because I can.

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