Make a zip-version

[musikBear]

Enhancement Summary

Many projects provides a zip version that does not need installing.
If at all possible(?), i suggest we make that feature.

Justification

It is a nice and feel-safe way to install software, and is a well known way for many packs (VLC, IrfanView, amo), and could encourage users to try out new versions, because a roll-back is drag and drop of either a zip'-content, or the backed-upped previous folder' content

[michaelgregorius]

I think the coarse steps would be as follows:

1. Find out which directories are used by LMMS to store configuration, etc.
2. Make LMMS check for the presence of a to be defined directory relative to the binary at startup. Visual Studio Code searches for a folder called data to go into "portable mode".
3. If the directory is found configure everything such that the relevant data is read from and stored beneath that folder.

[musikBear]

I think the coarse steps would be as follows:

That does not sound daunting at all, so if thats all it takes it would be a nice supplement to the installers

[DomClark]

See also #5201 and #5561.

[michaelgregorius]

Thanks for the information, @DomClark !

If I understand correctly installing LMMS in portable mode works as follows then:

1. Use the installer to install LMMS to the location of choice.
2. Create the file portable_mode.txt next to the LMMS executable.
3. Start the application.
4. The configuration file .lmmsrc.xml will then be installed next to the LMMS executable and the working directory will be set to lmms-workspace also next to the executable.

All what seems to be left then is to make this option more prominent. If it is not already implemented it would be great to have a check box like "Portable install" in the installer which would create the file portable_mode.txt during installation.

Another nice alternative would be a release as a zip file which would also contain the file portable_mode.txt.

[musikBear]

Another nice alternative would be a release as a zip file which would also contain the file portable_mode.txt.

That is what i hoped for. Portable is not part of the zip-update-thought