Portable Programming IDE

Question

Frequently I'm brainstormed with programming ideas that I would like to directly code. More or less like "Wow, that algorithm will rock! I need to write it now!".

For this kind of "impulse" to write, I use http://www.jarte.com/ that is a cool portable text editor. If I'm near a cybecafe or a friend computer, I just plug the usb pen drive and start to write...

So, I would like: 1) a portable minimalist IDE 2) with minimal OS requirement (ie.: I want run from XP, Vista, etc...) 3) any modern language (I can learn a new language if needed. I just want write/test the algoritm) 4) Syntax Highlight/intellisense is good, but not required 5) Free

Is there something like this?

Answer 1

For C/C++, DevC++ works off of a usb drive. It runs off of XP, and I believe Vista as well (never tried that). It also has syntax highlighting.

Only problem is (I'm assuming this) is that it doesn't work for other languages.

Answer 2

Please have a look at ideone.com - supports 40+ langugages

Answer 3

i use Instant rails with netbeans from my stik

Answer 4

Eclipse isn't "minimalist", but it does work installation-less. So as long as your USB key, or whatever, is large enough, you can put Eclipse in there and be ready to go.

Answer 5

I frequently use Firefox + Firebug when I want to quickly hack together something.

Answer 6

You may be looking for vim. Now, it won't be easy to learn how to use vim, but I'd count it time well spent. This is an unix utility that has been ported to basically every architecture and operating system see Portable GVim for the portable version. For info on using vim as an IDE, see here and here