How to use AI2 without installing on local hard drive?

[Billy Poon]

Hello all,

Apologies if this has been asked and answered, but I could not find it in the forums. 

I am trying to pitch the idea of having my communications class at my school (grade 10-12) to use App Inventor 2 to develop apps at a basic level. I really like AI 2 because it seems simple and straightforward and well supported as well as tested in other school settings. 

The problem I have is that my administrator has told me I cannot install any software onto the computers at school. This is fine for AI 2, since it seems to run in a web browser. 

I would really like the students to have the "live testing" function. However, I can't find out if the "live testing" function is available if I do not install software (AI 2 and the emulator). Is it possible to install just an emulator on a USB flash drive and still be able to do live testing?  

Please help!

Thank you!

[SteveJG]

App Inventor can work quite well if you use the WIFI option for live testing with an Android device.  Software on the PC is only necessary if you use the emulator or USB options.   See here 

• Set Up: Connect phone/tablet or emulator for live testing as you build 

Also, one can develop in the blind and make a Project and directly build the compiled app  (apk).   Here is a possible issue, the default on most browsers is to download to the PCs download folder...if you can point the the downloads to the USB then no problem.  A second way to build the apk is to have a QR code generated; if that is done, then the apk can be transferred directly to the Android device.     One other thing that is desirable to download is the aia source file which is used for sharing block code with others and as a backup for an important project.  Fortunately backups can be saved also to the MIT server  (Projects > Save project as ).

Can the emulator be loaded on a USB drive?    Interesting question..I am posting this question to the MIT guy that works with the installer...they are still having issues getting around the city of Boston with over five feet of snow so it might be a while before you get a reply.  Is it possible?   Perhaps but for a definitive answer, you got to wait for a technical person.

Be patient...someone will answer your emulator query.

While waiting you may want some reading material, the AI2 free online eBook   http://www.appinventor.org/book2 ... the links are at the bottom of the Web page.provides a course on AI2 online. :)

Regards,

Steve

[krupong]

I have same problem.so I have created my own project call ai2u.
There are portable version you can use without installation.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/ai2u/files/ai2u%202.4/