The search term is often a catch-all. Based on forum analysis, user requests fall into several categories:
Visual Studio uses Windows Installer (MSI) and merges modules. It installs shared components (e.g., Visual C++ Redistributables, .NET Framework SDKs, Windows SDK) into the Global Assembly Cache (GAC) and WinSxS folder. These are system-wide and cannot be relocated. Visual Studio 2015 Portable
: Typically limited to C++, C#, and Basic; advanced workloads (like Mobile or Cloud) often fail. The search term is often a catch-all
Alex explained that the portable version was essentially a self-contained installation of VS2015, complete with all the features and tools of the full version. The only difference was that it ran from the USB drive, using a combination of XML configuration files and redirected registry settings. These are system-wide and cannot be relocated
: Supports adding cross-platform plugins and libraries like JSON.NET or HTTP clients to your shared project. Portable Alternatives and Workarounds
Application Virtualization: Using tools like VMware ThinApp or Cameyo to "virtualize" the installation into a single executable file.