# Portable version of Processing

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/portable-version-of-processing/26775>\
**Category:** Processing\
**Created:** [January 4, 2021, 6:52pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/portable-version-of-processing/26775 "2021-01-04T18:52:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bird](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/bird/32/118_2.png) [@Bird](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Bird)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 6:52pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/portable-version-of-processing/26775/1 "2021-01-04T18:52:00Z")

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I would like to find a way to make Processing portable. I understand that you can run it from a USB, but this do not make it portable. Currently, it will write preferences to AppData (on Windows) and it will create a Processing folder in Documents (again, on Windows).  
I would love to know how to make or, preferably, just download a portable version.

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**Author:** ![josephh](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/josephh/32/210_2.png) [@josephh](https://discourse.processing.org/u/josephh)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 11:17pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/portable-version-of-processing/26775/2 "2021-01-04T23:17:09Z")

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Hi,

For portability, I would go with a small linux distribution on a USB stick with persistent storage (so when you unplug it, it remembers what you did). You can check out some here :

> **[10 Best Linux Distros to Install on a USB Stick](https://www.fossmint.com/best-linux-distros-to-install-on-usb/)**
>
> Today, our attention is Linux distros that are perfect for running from USB sticks, which means that we'll be concentrating on portable Operating Systems.

With this, you could download Processing and have a small coding environment on an usb 😉

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**Author:** ![glv](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/glv/32/18785_2.png) [@glv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/glv)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 2:22am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/portable-version-of-processing/26775/3 "2021-01-05T02:22:00Z")

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Hello,

I did this a few years back:

> [@Folders created during installation](https://discourse.processing.org/t/folders-created-during-installation/12360/5):
>
> For complete portability I started here: The Processing 3.3.7 that I compiled worked! This is not for the faint of heart! This is for the adventurous! I have not done this in years so you are on your own if you chose to take this path. slight_smile

I had to modify the source code and compile a new portable version.

`:)`