Programs with databases and/or cache like FirefoxPortable and SkypePortable always run in the background and thus constantly write to the USB Flash Drive/Cloud.
I know it's needed for true portability, but is it worth the price? What's wrong with, say, copy the database/cache into %temp% and move it back once the program gets closed? Just like someone once asked specifically for Firefox.
I know there's the possibility of RunLocally=true, but it's meant for read-only access to the portable programs, not for storing any changes, right?
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by default is set to '0' (zero) for Firefox Portable.
While it ensures no cache is written, is the profile folder not constantly written into? Likewise for Skype.
I'm using a RAM disk for running portable Chrome.
works like this:-
user clicks 'provision browser' this does this:-
make a RAM disk of 350Mb
format the drive the 'quick' way
unzip a premade up copy of Chrome compressed with 7zip.
This process takes 30 seconds.
next user runs browser from drive W: (a RAM disk)
when you quit the app this dismounts W:, syncs bookmarks and destroys the browser. 350Mb has 3/4s of this used for the browser.
this works absolutely great. If you are interested I'll share the code.
blessings
yosef
The xBible project
bringing The Bible to closed off countries
Copying things to and from the local PC is tremendously slow for startups and exits and can result in personal details left behind. If the PC crashes and won't reboot, do you want your Firefox password store, bookmarks and cookies left on the local machine?
Flash drives will last longer than you will have them as a general rule these days. Writing small bits of data to a profile for maintaining browsing history isn't a big deal. The only exception is with seriously low end drives. Like $10 at the local office supply store. These will sometimes use low end memory chips with 1/10th the lifespan of better drives.
The best thing you can do is back up REGULARLY. Sooner or later every flash drive will die. And you can't tell when. Even a high end drive can die within a few months sometimes due to a faulty component. The warranty means the drive is replaced. But not your data. Back that data up!
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
To be honest, I use portableapps locally because I just don't like installing stuff and cluttering my registry, etc.
But should I use a cloud sync client, will it slow down my OS because it will constantly upload those small bits of data to the cloud?
Uploading/downloading small amounts very frequently is just how any online game would operate, so no it would impact on the performance of the computer.
Though of course any application using the internet access is trying to share a finite resource.
If at first you do not succeed, use more sticky tape.
So they should by definition slow down other things.
But apps like Firefox and Skype run in the background and aren't expected to slow down other online apps.
Any application is taking a share of the resources, just if you have only a small number of tabs open in a browser, and them not doing very much then it might not be using any bandwidth at all, or not using much of the CPU time.
Because you can't see an impact does not mean there isn't one.
Just perhaps being too small to notice.
Because you can't see something does not mean it doesn't exist.
If I have a browser open with a considerable number of tabs, then I most certainly do see an impact when running anything else intensive like games.
If at first you do not succeed, use more sticky tape.
Wouldn't it happen anyway with RunLocally=true?
Never got a reply to this: what's the difference regarding the aforementioned quote whether you use the existing RunLocally=true or my suggestion?
Also, one more noteworthy issue is online drives' trash bins. For example, my Google Drive's trash bin contains endless identical files especially because PortableApps keeps copying and deleting files between Data and the app's expected folder. Do note those trash bins take up space just like any other folder. Worse still, they're not synced to your computer so it's hard to monitor them and unlike Gmail, Google Drive's trash never gets automatically deleted.
As a general rule, our launchers move a file back and forth. They aren't copied and deleted. That's why it's very fast even for large files on a single drive.
I have no plans to alter any implementations at this time. I have neither the resources, energy, or interest. If you wish to or wish to pay someone to, I'm happy to consider it.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!