VMware ThinApp: Revolutionizing Application Virtualization and Portability

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In today's fast-paced computing landscape where users demand more flexibility from their applications than ever before, application virtualization has emerged as a game-changer. Among the leading players in this field is VMware ThinApp (formerly known as Thinstall), an innovative suite that allows developers to package conventional Windows applications into portable versions capable of running seamlessly on different operating systems.

In this article, we will delve deeper into what makes VMware ThinApp so revolutionary and explore how you can harness its powerful features to create your own portable apps.

What is Application Virtualization?

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Before diving headfirst into the world of virtualized applications, let's take a moment to understand exactly what application virtualization entails. Simply put, it involves creating an environment that mimics the original operating system without actually modifying or installing any actual software components on target machines. This approach offers several benefits:

1. Increased Portability: Applications created using VMware ThinApp are entirely self-contained and do not rely on specific versions of Windows or other third-party dependencies to function, making them incredibly portable across diverse hardware configurations.

2. Improved Compatibility: By virtualizing applications rather than modifying their codebase directly, developers can ensure compatibility with older operating systems that may no longer be supported by original software vendors.

3. Simplified Deployment and Management: With ThinApp's suite of tools at your disposal, deploying new or updated versions becomes a breeze – simply push out the latest package to all target machines without worrying about intricate configuration processes each time.

How to Create Portable Apps Using VMware Thin App

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Now that we've covered some of the key benefits offered by application virtualization using VMware ThinApp, let's move on to see how you can actually create your own portable apps. Here are step-by-step instructions:

### Step 1: Download and Install VMware ThinApp

Head over to 'VMware's official website'(https://www.vmware.com/uk/products/thinapp.html) and download the latest version of VMware ThinApp. Follow the installation wizard prompts carefully until you've successfully installed the software on your machine.

### Step 2: Choose an Application for Virtualization

Select a Windows application that you'd like to virtualize using VMware ThinApp. Make sure it's compatible with ThinApp by checking 'VMware's compatibility list'(https://support.vmware.com/kb/1010619). For this example, let's use the popular media player VLC.

### Step 3: Launch and Configure ThinApp

Double-click on the newly installed VMware ThinApp icon in your Start menu or Applications folder depending on whether you're running Windows or macOS respectively. Click 'Next' through the initial setup wizard until you reach the main interface of ThinApp:

'Image description: Main Interface of VMware ThinApp'

### Step 4: Create a New Application Package

In the left-hand panel, click on 'Applications'. Then, from within this new window's context menu (right-click for Windows or control + mouse right-click), select 'New > Empty':

'Image description: Creating a New Application Package in VMware ThinApp'

### Step 5: Add and Configure Virtualized Applications

In the newly created package workspace located on the right-hand side of your screen, click 'Add/Remove' at the top toolbar:

'Image description: Adding an Application to a VMWare Thin App Package'(https://i.imgur.com/xzK2fGc.png)

Browse through local or networked drives for the application you wish to virtualize (in this case, VLC). Once found, select it and click 'Add':

### Step 6: Capture and Publish Your Virtualized Application

With all necessary files added, navigate back up two levels in your file system hierarchy until you reach the following directory structure:

```

C:\ProgramData\VMware\ThinApp

|---YourPackage.ppkg (or .hta)

```

Double-click on 'YourPackage.ppam' to launch it. Follow any prompts presented during the initial application launch sequence:

'Image description: Launching a Virtualized Application Created Using VMware Thin App'(https://i.imgur.com/I1L4p9c.png)

Congratulations! You have successfully created your first portable app using VMware ThinApp!

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In conclusion, VMware ThinApp offers developers an unparalleled level of control over application delivery and deployment while simultaneously providing end-users with unprecedented flexibility when it comes to running their favorite applications on any supported operating system. By following the simple steps outlined above, you too can unlock the full potential of this powerful toolset and start creating your own portable apps today.

References:

- VMware ThinApp Official Website: https://www.vmware.com/uk/products/thinapp.html

- YouTube Tutorial: 'How To Do It - Creating Portable App Using VMware Thin App':

Vmware thinapp portable