I'm looking for a compiler or interpreter for a language with basic math support and File IO which can be executed directly from a memorystick in either Linux or Windows. Built in functionality for basic datastructures and sorting/searching would be a plus.
(I've read about movable python, but it only supports windows)
Thank you
Not sure what are the issues there for the other languages, but I am pretty sure that Lua will work fine on such environment.
It is perfect for your requirements: basic I/O, math functions, excellent data structures (all based on numeric and associative array, with any kind of key/values, allowing the most complex operations).
Bonus: very simple to learn (for the bases, at least), readable, and powerful when you start to dig. And it starts to have a number of useful libraries, sockets, regexes and parsers, GUI, etc.
It is just a single binary file, no install at all, no registry access, no file access (beyond reading the binary and script!) if not requested, totally transparent: it is often used in embedded system, often memory constrained, on Roms, etc.
Not sure if it still applies to current versions, but I have an ancient perl.exe (version 5.001, from 1994 or 1995) that still works perfectly fine as a no-installation single executable.
Not sure that I understand the question: what would keep you from putting any language on a memory stick? You're going to have to put both Linux and Windows binaries if you want both, but that shouldn't be an issue. If you really want portability, you could go the route I did, and put a full Linux install with Java/Eclipse on an 8Gb stick.
Why not C++? You can statically link in any external librarys assuming there lisence allows it, and you won't have any external dependencies.
The Java JDK easily fits on a stick, and does not require installation; You can install it to a PC first and then just copy the install directory to the stick. I presume you can do the same for the Linux JDK.
And there's a ton of good text editors that don't require installation.
There is a python distribution called Movable Python which is designed to do exactly that. It might do what you want. Also, MinGW/MSYS will run on Windows with no registry entries or other installation beyond placing the files in a directory tree - all you need to do is set up the relevant directories in the path, which can be done in a batch file.
TCC (the Tiny C Compiler) is a full implementation of C in a really small package. You can even write shell scripts in C:
#!/usr/local/bin/tcc -run
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
printf("Hello World\n");
return 0;
}
TCC is available for any Unix-like platform, and also for Windows.
http://smallbasic.sourceforge.net/
Runs anywhere (even mobiles) and has everything you need.
I'm way late for this party, but I thought I'd weigh in anyway.
I currently have a Windows-usable USB stick with the following installed on it (for Windows):
Languages
Programming Tools
Geek Toys
And a cast of dozens in key libraries, plus the Geronimo application server.
Yes, this is a single USB stick, and I probably missed an item here or there while making this list. It's amazing what you can run off of a USB stick these days.