CATIA is not a lightweight utility. It is a billion-line codebase that integrates deeply with Windows Registry, system drivers (for license dongles), and .NET frameworks. A true "portable" app runs from a single folder without touching the host OS. CATIA V5, by design, cannot do this.
But does it exist? And if it does, should you use it? Let’s be clear: Dassault Systèmes has never released an official portable version of CATIA V5.
The idea is seductive. Imagine carrying the world’s most powerful surface modeling and product design software on a USB stick. Plug it into any computer—a hotel laptop, a university lab PC, or a factory floor terminal—and launch the full CATIA V5 environment without installation, admin rights, or a license server.