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List of portable software facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts


SanDisk-Cruzer-USB-4GB-ThumbDrive
A 4 GB USB flash drive, perfect for portable apps!

A portable application is a special kind of software that you can carry and use from a USB flash drive, an external hard drive, or even some digital audio players. Imagine having your favorite programs with you wherever you go, without needing to install them on every computer you use! These apps don't leave any files or settings behind on the computer's main storage, making them super handy and neat.

Portable App Collections

Sometimes, you can find many portable apps grouped together in a special collection. These collections often come with a menu that helps you find and open the apps easily. It's like having a mini-computer on your USB stick!

  • Ceedo
  • MojoPac
  • LiberKey
  • PortableApps.com
  • U3
  • WinPenPack

App Launchers

Launchers are programs that help you organize and start your portable applications. They make it simple to find the app you want to use from your USB drive.

See also: Comparison of application launchers
  • Appetizer (a Dock style launcher)
  • ASuite
  • Launchy
  • OpenDisc
  • RocketDock

Tools for Developers

Even if you're just starting to learn about coding, there are portable tools that can help you create your own software!

Coding Languages

These are tools for writing computer programs.

Coding Environments

An IDE is like a special workshop for programmers. It has all the tools you need to write, test, and fix your code.

  • Alice IDE
  • Portable Eclipse
  • Portable Code::Blocks (works with MinGW)
  • Portable Dev-C++
  • Hackety Hack (an educational version of Ruby)
  • SharpDevelop Portable

Creative Tools

3D Art and Animation

These programs let you create amazing 3D models and animations, like characters for games or short films.

  • Anim8or – Free software for 3D modeling and animation.
  • Blender:
    • BlenderPortable
    • Blender Pocket
    • XBlender

Drawing and Photo Editing

Want to draw, paint, or edit your photos? These portable graphic editors are perfect for artistic projects.

Image Viewers

These programs help you look at your pictures and sometimes do quick edits.

  • FastStone Image Viewer (can capture screens and turn pictures into PDFs)
  • Irfanview
  • XnView

Document Tools

Office Programs

These are like the apps you use for schoolwork, such as writing essays or making presentations.

Text Editors

These are simple programs for writing and editing plain text, useful for notes or coding.

  • EmEditor Professional
  • Geany
  • Notepad++
  • Notepad2
  • PSPad
  • SciTE
  • Sublime Text
  • Vim

Learning and Fun

Educational Software

Explore the stars, learn math, or read e-books with these portable learning tools.

  • Celestia (explore space)
  • GCompris (educational games)
  • Maxima (math software)
  • Stellarium (virtual planetarium)
  • Calibre (e-book manager)

Games

Yes, you can even play games from your USB drive! Here are some popular portable games.

Game Emulators

Emulators let you play games from older game consoles on your computer.

Internet Tools

Web Browsers

Take your favorite internet browser with you, including all your bookmarks and settings.

Email Programs

Manage your emails on the go with these portable email clients.

Chat and Messaging

Stay in touch with friends using portable messaging apps.

  • Google Talk
  • Miranda NG
  • Pidgin Portable
  • Skype
  • Trillian Anywhere
  • Yahoo! Messenger

File Transfer (FTP)

These tools help you upload or download files from websites.

File Sharing (P2P)

These programs let you share files with other people directly.

  • BitComet
  • Emule
  • Opera (has a torrent client built-in)
  • μTorrent
  • qBittorrent Portable

Multimedia Tools

File Converters

Change video or audio files from one format to another.

  • Any Video Converter
  • Audiograbber
  • CDex
  • FormatFactory
  • fre:ac
  • MediaCoder

CD/DVD Burning

Create your own CDs or DVDs with these portable burning programs.

  • CDBurnerXP
  • DVDStyler
  • DeepBurner Portable Edition
  • InfraRecorder
  • Portable ImgBurn

Audio and Video Editors

Edit your music or videos with these portable tools.

Media Players

Watch videos and listen to music from your portable drive.

  • RealPlayer
  • FLV player
  • Media Player Classic
  • foobar2000
  • MPlayer
  • SMPlayer
  • VLC Media Player
  • Winamp

Other Handy Tools

File Management

These programs help you organize and move files on your computer or portable drive.

  • Directory Opus
  • Total Commander
  • XYplorer

File Compressors

Shrink files to save space or combine them into one package.

PDF Readers

Open and view PDF documents easily.

See also: List of PDF software
  • Foxit Reader
  • STDU Viewer
  • Sumatra PDF
  • PDF-XChange Viewer

Security and Privacy

Password Managers

Keep all your passwords safe and organized in one place.

  • KeePass Portable
  • Password Safe

Antivirus and Anti-Spyware

Protect your computer from harmful software, even when using portable apps.

System Helpers

Cleaning Tools

Keep your computer running smoothly by cleaning up junk files.

  • CCleaner

File Recovery

Accidentally deleted something important? These tools might help you get it back.

  • PhotoRec
  • Recuva

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Aplicaciones portátiles para niños

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List of portable software Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.