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I am a curious programmer, and was all the way wondering on how apps on PortableApps were made. Since Pidgin, the replacement for Gaim was released I was waiting for a while for Portable Apps but I guess they must be busy with the number off apps they have to handle.
So I went and analyze the Gaim Portable sources, read some info on Pidgin official site, downloaded NSIS and I managed to make it work! I was planning just to use it personally but as always I feel like sharing it.
You can download it here:
PidginPortable.zip md5sum: f4ea8c532f43166b7ef61ee915c1218e
And if you want spell checking support, extract this to PidginPortable\App\aspell
aspell.zip md5sum: 19a0d7cf3a384e17b642825220121462
They are zip archives since I have not learned about the install files from Portable Apps yet.
The Pidgin files were copied from my local installation, by guidance from the Pidgin FAQ: Running Windows Pidgin From a USB Drive.
The installed size is around 8.48MB. Like Gaim Portable, I’ve utilized UPX to compress the EXE and DLL files.
Modifications were done mainly to the NSIS script, to use new Pidgin variables and names. Many references to the original site http://PortableApps.com/GaimPortable were not changed, even in the quick splash image I made. In addition I just added my name in the source and version 🙂
There maybe some problems that I have not encountered, so you might want to use the official release from Portable Apps once it is released. They are the experts.
10 May 2007: Updated with GTK Theme Selector:
PidginPortable.zip md5sum: dabbfc11b03512e01d79fda935be8bb1 Updated below
*The GTK Theme Selector will override the settings by the Pidgin GTK Theme Control if used. If you don’t need the selector, simply delete the executable and it will disappear from the menu. The overwriting problem exists as I have to ask the Theme Selector to copy its settings written in settings/.purple/.gtkrc-2.0 to what Pidgin looks for: settings/.purple/gtkrc-2.0 (notice the dot before the filename).
I still can’t figure out how to enable aspell support so as you can see I have disabled the aspell download.
Modifications / Additions (replace these if you don’t want to overwrite everything)
- Added file
PidginPortableGTKThemeSelector.nsi - Modified file
PidginPortable.nsi - Recompiled
PidginPortable.exe - Compiled
PidginPortableGTKThemeSelector.exe - Added folder (and files in it)
App\GTK\share
17 May 2007: Just a news
This is not an update to the software, but just a reminder that you should scan the zip file before using it (if you decide to use it). Use an updated anti-virus software to scan the files. This is just to make sure that the zip file has not been modified or anything. I just checked the file on the server and it is still the same the way I uploaded it. But there is a jerk accusing me of embedding keyloggers inside the software (in the PortableApps forum).
I have scanned the files with 3 different anti-viruses: ClamWin Portable, Avast U3 Edition, and AVG. They all returned clean results so this proves that the jerk is either (1) having fun telling bad lies about others (2) an imbecile who does not know how to read scan results (3) an imbecile who does not know how to read scan results (4) an imbecile who does not know how to read scan results.
As I am a nice person I hope he is categorized in option 2, 3, and 4 meaning he is not a bad person, but an inexperienced computer user.
27 May 2007: Updated with Pidgin 2.0.1:
PidginPortable-2.0.1.zip (7.17MB) md5sum: 38373a8d2bd33f47e253635968f8cf08
As always, remember to scan before unzipping it to your drive.
02 Aug 2007: Updated with Pidgin 2.1.0
This update includes Pidgin 2.1.0 and also some other additions:
- Spell check support. Aspell is included with EN dictionary as an example. If you don’t need spell checking support simply delete the contents of the
App\Aspellfolder and you’ll save 5MB+ of space. - Off-the-Record Messaging plugin support. Files located in
App\Pidgin\plugins\folder, asotr_*.exeandpidgin-otr.dll - Included a gtkrc file for CTRL-ENTER key binding when sending messages. To avoid any confusion this is not handled by NSIS but the file
App\DefaultData\settings\gtkrc-2.0-ctrl-enterneeds to be manually copied toData\settings\.purple\gtkrc-2.0(the problem later is that the Pidgin GTK+ Theme Control plugin will overwrite this file if you ever use it). gtkrc-2.0and.gtkrc-2.0no longer conflicts each other (I was confused during the last release).gtkrc-2.0will be used by Pidgin and considered as a “local” or “user” setting while.gtkrc-2.0is global and now the only file written by the GTK Theme Selector. Both of them are honored by Pidgin
PidginPortable-2.1.0.zip (11.3 MB (11,946,141 bytes)) md5sum: 84fdbd7b42bb42a0c5a96628acf56b11
I wanted to include some smileys in the package but since the size is already a whopping 11.3MB (packed) and 16MB+ when unpacked, I leave to users to decide. Here’s one recommended smiley theme from Ozmo. Simply extract to App\Pidgin\pixmaps\pidgin\emotes\ForumSmileys-0.8 to use and activate.
Here’s a screenshot of the OTR and spell checker in action:
Have fun!
As I described in my latest post today, I will stop packaging Pidgin Portable for the public as it has been officially released in PortableApps: Pidgin Portable 2.1.0 Released.
@Ady,
Yeah, I know the time thing all too well. Who do I talk to, to get you the time 🙂
i come here from wikipedia about portable applications of pidgin,and i like portable applications too.i am a chinese guy,and i like you site and have subscriptioned your web in google reader.my english is not very good now.i hope what i have writed is correct and you can understand what i writed.
This is awesome. You have done some really great work. Thanks for sharing your work. Really appreciate your generosity.
@fatalist: thanks for visiting.
@Murray: it is my pleasure. I am happy you liked it.
I am still trying to find time to update to 2.0.2, but since I see that Pidgin 2.1.0 is just 6 days away I am going to target that version instead.
I found instructions on installing OTR encryption into your portable Pidgin here: http://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=508#4973
In a nutshell, download the latest OTR and unzip it. Take the .dll and otr_*.exe files and copy them into the Pidgin plugin director.
That’s just great – Gaim Portable simply refuses to start for whatsoever odd reason, so getting the new Pidgin as a portable Version is great and I greatly appreciate your effort ;-), especially since I try to avoid installing software on my machine wherever possible 🙂 .
Thanks everyone. I am still waiting for 2.1.0 to be released
Nice to know you still pack key loggers with your version of pidgin. thought I’d let your readers know what you are up to
Look, prove to me that there’s a keylogger in the package instead of talking out of your ass.
He’s back everyone! The famous asshole who is to scared too reveal his real name!
I wish this guy would shut up. I cannot detect anything wrong with this, except that is is by far the most ‘portable app’ like package for pidgin. He’s just jealous, and would be better off building a better package if he needs to prove something. Other than that, Ady, great work. I’d have like the Pidgin about box to show 2.1.0, instead of 2.0.0, but then, that’s not because of making it portable.
Thanks Chris. I wish I didn’t have to use foul language here, which from time to time is needed in situations.
Oh well… everyone can always scan their own downloads and have the option to decide whether or not to use something downloaded from the Internet.
I was using the previous unofficial release, the directory structure seems that changed, which files should I keep to upgrade?
btw, thanks for making this, it is very nice of you since portableapps seems to not care
Marcel, there’s no change in directory structure so it would be safe if you just extract the new version on top of the old one. Be sure to make a backup first though.
Many additions you see are to the aspell folder, that’s all.
Hello my name is Ray. I just wanted to let everyone know that there actually is a PortableApps version now of Pidgin available to download. Also, I have found a version of Windows Live Messenger. It says it’s lite but I do not think so. You can download it here: link disabled
You’ll be downloading it from Windows Live SkyDrive http://skydrive.live.com
@Ray: If you read carefully at the end of the post you would have seen that I am no longer packaging it because PortableApps.com have released the official version of the Portable App. It has been a while – more than a year (22 Aug 2007). Thanks anyway.