The creation of applications designed to run independently of the host operating system’s typical installation procedures is a specialized area of software development. These applications, often referred to as “portable,” can be executed from removable storage devices such as USB drives, without requiring installation on the computer’s hard drive. A common example is a web browser that can be launched directly from a USB drive, retaining user settings and data within the drive itself, rather than modifying the host system’s configuration.
Developing applications in this manner offers several advantages. It facilitates ease of use across multiple systems without leaving a trace of its execution on the machine after use. This is particularly beneficial in environments where users have limited administrative privileges or desire to maintain privacy. Furthermore, these applications can be easily transferred between different computers, ensuring consistent user experience and configuration regardless of the operating environment. Early examples of such applications were often tailored for system administrators needing diagnostic tools readily available on any computer.
