# How can i package a node-red app/flow in a .exe file

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-can-i-package-a-node-red-app-flow-in-a-exe-file/62758>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [17 May 2022 14:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-can-i-package-a-node-red-app-flow-in-a-exe-file/62758 "2022-05-17T14:45:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![nickscali](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/nickscali/32/61722_2.png) [@nickscali](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/nickscali)\
**Post date:** [17 May 2022 14:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-can-i-package-a-node-red-app-flow-in-a-exe-file/62758/1 "2022-05-17T14:45:37Z")

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Hi everyone.  
I state that I am new to programming, and to node red.  
I made a small application to read data from an omron plc (using fins) and write it to a csv file.  
I wanted to ask you, if it was possible to package an app / flows in a flie exe using npm pkg.  
This is because the app will be installed on the PC of a factory that is connected to the plc.  
and in that computer I didn't want to install nodejs and I wanted to make it easy for the workers to use.  
I've already seen a topic of someone using pkg and alternate-node-red-installer by TotallyInformation. I followed all the steps described but failed. i create the exe file and when i run it, nothing happens.  
I've also seen electron-node-red but it's complicated for my level.

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**Author:** ![cymplecy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/cymplecy/32/2773_2.png) [@cymplecy](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/cymplecy)\
**Post date:** [17 May 2022 19:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-can-i-package-a-node-red-app-flow-in-a-exe-file/62758/2 "2022-05-17T19:28:09Z")

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Try [Node-RED Desktop | Desktop applicaiton of Node-RED. You can get a quick and easy powerful tool.](https://sakazuki.github.io/node-red-desktop/) and see if that does what you need

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**Author:** ![TotallyInformation](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/totallyinformation/32/31_2.png) [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)\
**Post date:** [17 May 2022 21:04 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-can-i-package-a-node-red-app-flow-in-a-exe-file/62758/3 "2022-05-17T21:04:38Z")

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> [@nickscali](#):
>
> alternate-node-red-installer

That doesn't create a packaged version of Node-RED, it helps install the standard version in a local folder structure instead of globally.

To package node-red as an application, you need the electron version or similar as Simon has indicated.

However, you could also create an npm installable package that included node-red, a pre-configured userDir folder (which is where all the settings and flow details reside). That can easily be done and pushed, say, to a private repository on GitHub and installed on any PC that has node.js installed on it.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [16 July 2022 21:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-can-i-package-a-node-red-app-flow-in-a-exe-file/62758/4 "2022-07-16T21:05:14Z")

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