Comfy UI Desktop

This version separates the ComfyUI application from  the "BASE Directory" (assets, models and plugins).

With the other Portable version you need to start a terminal webserver and use your web browser to work, 
this Desktop version does all that in one UI application.
The webserver runs hidden in the backgound while you work.
Your workflow is loaded within the Desktop and therefore you do not need a separate browser.

• Version control / install on new machine
  You can store the installer and use it later to install the same version on other machines.
  The installer contains a copy of the ComfyUI Git. Which means it does not download the latest version.
  
  So as long as an artist does not update, you use the same version on all machines.
  
  
  
• Per Project setup
  By default, you already have a separated BASE Directory.
  While you create workflows, download models and custom nodes, your comfyUI application folder is kept the same.
  
  Small Disadvantages: 
  The location of the BASE Directory is set once at installation and then "hardcoded" into ComfyUIs config file (in your users preference directory).
  Then Comfy UI Desktop version places its python.exe into the \.venv subfolder of the BASE directory.
  If you want to create a new BASE Directory, you have to copy the \.venv folder and pre-create the other folders.

Installation notes:

• Install into versioned folder
  It is recommended that you do not install ComfyUI Desktop into a default folder "/ComfyUI/" if you are concerned of version control.
  Instead you should at least add the version to the path (with underscore) like "/ComfyUI_0.8.5/".
• BASE Directory on any drive
  If you have multiple disks in your workstation and you want to install on a drive  other than  C:\, then the installer complains that you should not do that. 
  So far test have shown no issues installing to an other local harddrive. 
  Network drives cause issues. Perhaps the installer assumes that any other drive than C:\ must be a network drive?

Comfy UI Portable

All-in-one folder. 
The folder contains everything.
All applications, all plugins and all your data.

You start the ComfyUI webserver in a terminal and use your own internet browser to connect to it.

• Version control / install on new machine
  On Installation, it always downloads the latest version of ComfyUI.
  It is more complicated to track the version used.
  
  Which means you cannot just install it a month later on some other machine and assume you get the same version.
  You would have to retrieve some snapshot ID (git commit-ID) on one machine and tell local Git download to use that specific on the other machine.
  
  If you want to copy it to instead of installing it on a new machine, then you have to remember that all plugins including those 100GB of models and all your workflows are stored in this folder.
  You copy everything even if you don't need all these models for your next project. 
  I highly recommend that you follow "Per Project setup" right after installation. 
  Even before you start it the first time.
  
  
  
• Per Project setup
  By default, all data gets downloaded into this application folder.
  Temp files, application, workflows and assets are mixed.
  Even if you never switch to a different model folder, you should still think of seperating your assets from the application.
  
  You should edit the run_nvidia_gpu.bat file that starts the webserver and provide a new "Base Directory" to store all asset files separated from the application.
• Separate BASE directory from application.
  With this step, you separate the application from the assets.
  Edit the file run_nvidia_gpu.bat and add the commandline flag
  --base-directory "C:\Comfy_Base"
  
  
• Additional: Place workflow, input and output on fileserver
  While the whole BASE directory should not be on a network share as it gets really slow, you can still place everything workflow related on the fileserver.
  --base-directory "C:\Comfy_Base" --database-url "sqlite:///C:/Comfy_Base/user/comfyui.db" --output-directory "//fileserver/share/projectX/Comfy/Output" --input-directory "//fileserver/share/projectX/Comfy/Input" --user-directory "//fileserver/share/projectX/Comfy/User"
  
  Note: The user folder contains all workflows, but it contains a comfyUI database as well. 
  And you might not want the database for your ComfyUI installation on the fileserver, which is why we relink it back.
  
  
  
  
  

Exe source root directory is set to \\server\RoyalRender\render_apps\renderer_exe\comfyui\win_x64\

Exe source file is set to           \\server\RoyalRender\render_apps\renderer_exe\comfyui\win_x64\ComfyUI_Desktop_*\.venv\Scripts\python.exe

Exe source file, best desired match \\server\RoyalRender\render_apps\renderer_exe\comfyui\win_x64\ComfyUI_Desktop_0.8.4\.venv\Scripts\python.exe

Auto-version change

Exe source root directory is set to \\server\RoyalRender\render_apps\renderer_exe\comfyui\win_x64\

Exe source file is set to           \\server\RoyalRender\render_apps\renderer_exe\comfyui\win_x64\ComfyUI_Portable_*\python_embeded\python.exe

Exe source file, best desired match \\server\RoyalRender\render_apps\renderer_exe\comfyui\win_x64\ComfyUI_Portable_0.13.0\python_embeded\python.exe

Auto-version change