AppImage.wiki

• All my apps I've either installed from package manager

* Or from source * But other ways exists * Like Snaps, flatpaks * AppImage * But what exactly is an AppImage * What is even the point * Never have to use if you don't want

• Dependencies are a major issue on Linux

* libraries, fonts, icons, applications * Sometimes named differently * Sometimes don't exist in standard repos * Take anything in AUR

• App image more than just an app binary

* Contains everything app needs to run

• Why use them

* One format for all distros * No need for debian package, arch package, void package, so on * Generally works out of box, no runtime dependencies * Technically need fuse * No need to compile apps * Installation is however long download takes * Windows esc installation * No root needed to install * Can have app images that require root * Updates handled within the application * Preserves old applications with old dependencies * Requires ancient version of gtk * May be other conflicts

• Why not

* Some reason why they're useful are why they're not * Bundling dependencies * Every time you need access to a library need to download * Rather than using system library * Updates circumvent package manager * Windows style installation * Download an app from devs website * Some stores * Downloading from 3rd party website introduces Windows security vulnerability * Generic builds are going to be slower * Not an issue on desktop everyone uses x86 or x86_64 * ARM is a different story though * Lose ability to do package manager operations * List, Uninstall

• Here's where we get somewhere weird

* Being windows esc installations you would think no need for a package manager * Old habits die hard * https://github.com/michaeldelago/aipm * We've come full circle * Obviously don't need it and shouldn't use it * But amuses me * Idea of single executable so alien to Linux users * Try to rengineer it as package

• Installation process

* Requires a working fuse installation * On arch just need to install fuse2 * Reboot * Download app image * Make exectable * Done