Methods for Portable Applications on Linux

From Hacktolive.org

Autopackage

Autopackage, once installed, allows the easy installation of .package files, they are just software installers, not portable apps.

PackageKit

PackageKit is just a cross-distro package manager (a very good one)

Smart Package Manager

Smart Package Manager is just a cross-distro package manager (does not seem to work very well)

LINA

LINA seems to be, among other things, some kind of platform that once installed, seems to allow the easy installation of "LINAfied" software. Might allow portable apps [1]

Klik

Klik, once installed, lets the user just go to the klik website, choose one of the programs there, click a button, and then just install it in a easy way... it then creates a .cmg file with the program.

AppImages

Java

Programs in the .jnlp or .jar format can run on any computer with Java installed. .jnlp do not seem to be self contained programs, but .jar files are (Making .jar files "portable apps")

SFS Technology

SFS Technology allows, in theory, to run portable programs in .sfs format. Some apps from their website worked well, however, only about half of the ones I tested worked... (not to mention the software and it's website are not even totally in English...).

Wine

Wine allows users to run some windows programs, therefore, allowing users to run some windows portable applications on Linux.

Zero Install

Zero Install is an easy way to install software: If a software developer publishes software in this format, just grab the install link (example: http://rox.sourceforge.net/2005/interfaces/ROX-Filer ), paste/drag it into Zero Install, and the program will be downloaded and installed.

While this does not make the software portable, there is a program, to be installed together with Zero Install, called Zero2Bundle, that can create "self-contained bundles" (meaning: "portable apps"! that don't require any other software installed, not even Zero Install), but only works with programs already available in "Zero Install format"...

l-portable

l-portable, in theory, can install some portable apps into a folder or USB flash drive, it did not worked for me, and at this time only offers Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird and MPlayer to be installed as portable software.

CNR

CNR.com offers programs in .cnr format. Note that .cnr files do not contain the software, they are just "links", and need internet connection to be installed, those files can be installed in many distros, as long as they have the CNR Plugin. Still in Beta, does not work very well, and they don't even have a plugin for Ubuntu 8.10. Currently (as of November, 2008) there seems to be no way to unninstall the software installed with CNR.

Nix

Nix "is a purely functional package manager. It allows multiple versions of a package to be installed side-by-side, ensures that dependency specifications are complete, supports atomic upgrades and rollbacks, allows non-root users to install software..." <-- seems to be a good piece of software, but I never really tried...

VMware ThinApp

VMware ThinApp is a tool to make Portable Aplicattions for Windows

Glick

[DEAD PROJECT] Glick was a runtime-less application bundle system for linux (I contacted the developer and he said glick was just a on-time hack and he no longer works on it)

OBLISK

(OUTDATED) OBLISK (alternative link) was "...a packaging system for GNU/Linux that will allow any binary package to run on virtually any system, regardless of the setup. It also makes the installation process easier for the end-user by eliminating the need to use secondary tools to install"

PBI

PBI seems to be only for PC-BSD (yes, I know this is not the place, but it might be an interesting technology...)

Luau

(OUTDATED PROJECT) I'm not really sure what Luau is, but it seems to be cool... From the site: "Automatically Update Programs And Libraries. Power And Flexibility Through Decentralized Control"

RUNZ

RUNZ - provides some portable apps. The RUNZ framework needs to be installed first, however, a runz file can be coverted to a true portable app (that does not require the framework) with the runz2self program

Application Bundles

Application Bundles seems an interesting project. It is mainly a format for portable apps (in the .parcel format) + a "launcher". It seems a well-designed project and there are a few working examples. Unfortunately, there is no automated way to create portable apps.

FeedBack

If you want to suggest more software, or you have found a mistake, you can contact me!