Portable Apps

PortableApps

There are multiple portable app repositories and there are many more portable versions of software not included among some of the more popular repositories.  I have mentioned portable apps in previous posts.  The repository I turn to the most is portableapps.com. 

Why portable apps.  Okay older-timers remember back in the day when the application was one file, mytool.exe, etc.  Remember before Microsoft created the Registry for Windows 95.  It was simple, it was a few files, there were no pesky "installers" or incomplete uninstalls.  Everything was contained in its own directory and when you got sick of it you just deleted the thing.  Now don't get me wrong DLLs and shared components have their place, but I think the windows world of programmers have gotten a bit carried away.

I like portable apps because they don't dirty up your system, they don't pollute your registry, they are usually light weight, and faster than the full blown app.  You might also be surprised at how many of them have all the same feature sets.  Or those that drop features, how you didn't really need or use that feature anyways.

But wait there is more.  What about the college kids that don't have a PC and use school and internet cafe PCs.  Get yourself a nice thumbdrive, load up your favorite portable apps, browser, word processor, RSS reader, etc.  All you settings, bookmarks, favorites are where ever you go.

But wait, Act now and we'll throw in this bonus offer.  You won't leave data, behind.  Browsing history stays on your thumb drive not the PC, chat logs, cookies, images, virtually no evidence is left behind that you were there.  **Note check and verify the behavior of the app, all apps are not crated equal, some may leave various artifacts on the system, this is not a get out of jail free card.  For example Windows will still keep a log that a USB device was connected to the system.  A good forensics analysts can still track you.

Portable apps, give them a go.

PortableApps