Temp/pref files and portable apps on Linux

1) Does the concept of portable apps exist for Linux in the same way as for Windows? i.e. install once to a folder on host X & then copy that folder however/wherever you like & run on any host Y, Z etc with no install needed on Y, Z etc.?

2) Other than Open Office, do any other portable apps leave traces on the host machine for the app themselves (as opposed to Windows generating logs for, say, http traffic for example)? Would it be possible for the devs to get all Portable Apps to store all temp/prefs etc. files in the same folder & drive as that from which a portable app is run so we can be sure no traces are left on host machines? If not, is it at least possible to maintain a list of which apps store such files on the host machine?