Portable versions of software will allow you to run programs without needing to install them. These can easily be put onto pen drives.
Text/Code Editors
Notepad++ is recommended for general use in programming, HTML, CSS, CSV and more. Portable version available.
Visual Studio Code from Microsoft is a very powerful editor, with lots of addons. No portable version.
Office Applications
Microsoft 365 – all school users have access through Glow. This includes online versions of Office applications, and a limited number of licenses to download and use on personal devices.
Apache Open Office – a free alternative to Microsoft Office
Programming
Python 3
Thonny contains both a Python interpreter and a simple programming environment. Portable version is available.
Python is the main programming language used in our SQA courses. winPython is a portable version of Python.
Scratch
Scratch can run inside a web browser, or be downloaded and installed on a computer for offline use.
Kodu Game Lab
Use Kodu to build virtual worlds and games. Simple, but powerful.
Databases
DB Browser for SQLite and sqliteStudio are sqLite databases manager. Suitable up to Higher level computing. Both are available as portable applications.
Web Server
xampp contains a Apache Web Server, Maria SQL database server and PHP interpreter. Suitable for Advanced Higher projects.
Graphics/Design
draw.io – an online editor suitable for flow charts, structure diagrams and UML designs
Figma – an online user interface editor
Paint.net – a free but powerful photograph editor
Tinkercad – online 3d editor from AutoDesk
PhotoMania – online photograph editor – mostly filters and overlays
Piskel – online editor for animated sprites and pixel art
