# Node-RED Standalone Executable

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-standalone-executable/77963>\
**Category:** General\
**Tags:** docker\
**Created:** [26 April 2023 18:02 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-standalone-executable/77963 "2023-04-26T18:02:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 19

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![marcus-j-davies](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/marcus-j-davies/32/103435_2.png) [@marcus-j-davies](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/marcus-j-davies)\
**Post date:** [28 April 2023 06:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/node-red-standalone-executable/77963/19 "2023-04-28T06:42:50Z")

</div>

Hi @bakman2,

Yes you can 🤓  
But there are a few things to watch for and do.

- You wont be able to make changes to the flow, trying to  
deploy will complain of a Read Only File System (See my image)

- You need to set the flows file and settings file as augments, when running the executable

- The virtual file system starts at `/snapshot/<Folder-Name>` or `c:\snapshot\<Folder-Name>` for win

With all that in mind...  
Lets assume we are working in a directory called **NR**

- The folder in which you installed Node RED (I.e your working directory) add a folder of say **config**

- Add this folder to the **assets** section of **package.json**

```auto
"pkg":{
    "assets": ["./node_modules/ **/*.*", "./config/** /*.*"]
  },

```

- Start node red normally to create your flows,  
BUT pass in an arg of `--userDir <Location of Config Dir>`

- Run the normal **pkg** command

Now then.....

To run the executable and have it use the embedded settings file and flows....

```auto
Node-RED-Executable --settings /snapshot/NR/config/settings.js /snapshot/NR/config/flows.json

```

Note: you will still need to set a `userDir` or let it use default, as Node RED will try and create it each time, and if setting `userDir` to an embdded location, it will crash trying to create the Dir

 ![Screenshot 2023-04-28 at 07.43.48](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/5/c/5c086fed015b60c8156995f3a508bc4ac2f7f13d.png)

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