Why Can’t Linux Programs Be Easily Shared As Portable Formats?

For your need for Python, look into tools like Anaconda, which cater to building isolated environments for projects. They can help with managing different Python versions without the hassle of compiling. It can feel hefty in size, but it's a viable option.

It's important to consider security and trust as well. While a zipped package from a developer could work, you'd want to ensure that you can trust the source, since your distribution's package manager typically ensures that packages are vetted.

There are definitely ways for developers to create portable versions of their software, but it often comes down to how the app is coded. Some apps have many dependencies or rely on specific system libraries that can't be bundled easily. That's also why tools like AppImage and Flatpak exist—to help manage these issues.

You might find that AppImages are the closest thing to portable apps in Linux, but they haven't really become mainstream like Flatpaks have. The availability of an AppImage depends on whether the developer decided to create one, and they usually offer a complete software package that includes everything the app needs. It allows for greater flexibility in how you run the software without installation, similar to what you're asking about.

Not every program can simply be zipped and shared due to their dependencies. For example, while Blender is relatively self-contained, many other applications rely on specific libraries or system structures which can cause issues if they're not packaged correctly. That's why a lot of programs are designed to be installed rather than just extracted.