Bundle runtime prerequisistes with portable versions

[slawo-ch]

Can we find a way to 'bundle' any runtime prerequisites with the portable versions or go back to an more commonly pre-installed runtime?
The whole point of a portable version is to not need admin privileges to run, and the installer - especially a runtime installer - requires that.

[otykier]

Agreed. We’ll should probably include the runtimes in the .zip. Going back is not an option due to some functionality in 3.3.0+ that requires .NET 6.

These are the prerequisites needed:

• .NET 6 Desktop Runtime x64
• VC++ 2015-2022 Redistributable x64 (no longer needed starting from TE v. 3.3.3)

(and similar for x86)

[otykier]

@slawo-ch Starting from v. 3.3.3 we no longer require the VC++ 2015-2022 Redistributable, so the only prerequisite needed is the .NET 6 Desktop Runtime. If still needed, we may be able to provide a self-contained (portable) version of TE3 which includes the .NET 6 Desktop Runtime binaries, although this file would likely be +50 MB larger than the current portable version, which doesn't include the .NET 6 Desktop Runtime.

[slawo-ch]

The desktop runtime does not come preinstalled by default and likely won't ever as per: See: dotnet/core#6411

Not including .NET 6 in the portable version makes it necessary to elevate to admin on installation and each lib update.

50MB for a portable version that makes it standalone and portable is a low price to pay IMO.

Thank you :)

[otykier]

The desktop runtime does not come preinstalled by default and likely won't ever as per: See: dotnet/core#6411

Thanks for pointing my attention to that thread. Indeed it seems that an optional portable version of TE3 which includes the .NET Desktop Runtime (self-contained) is the way forward. We’ll make it happen!