appimagekit

# AppImageKit AppImageKit is the reference implementation of the AppImage format, a way to package desktop applications for Linux so they run on many different distributions (RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, openSUSE, and derivatives) without modification or installation. ## Key advantages - **One file per app**: Download, make executable, and run — no unpacking or installation needed - **No root required**: Works out of the box, no system libraries are changed - **Portable**: Can run from Live ISOs, USB sticks, or when dual-booting multiple distributions - **Optional desktop integration** via appimaged - **Binary delta updates** for continuous builds (only download the diff) - **GPG2 signing** supported inside the file - **Self-extracting archive**: Can extract contents with `--appimage-extract` - **Central directory**: Apps can be listed on AppImageHub ## Runtime behavior When run, an AppImage mounts its embedded filesystem image and executes the contained application. Special command-line options include: - `--appimage-help` — print help - `--appimage-offset` — show offset of embedded filesystem image - `--appimage-extract` — extract contents (useful when FUSE is unavailable) - `--appimage-mount` — mount and print mount point - `--appimage-version` — print AppImageKit version - `--appimage-updateinformation` — print update info - `--appimage-signature` — print embedded digital signature ## Portable configuration If a directory named `<AppImage>.home` exists next to the AppImage, `$HOME` is set to it before running the payload. Similarly, `<AppImage>.config` sets `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME`. This allows carrying settings alongside the executable, e.g., on a USB stick. ## Components - **appimagetool** — low-level tool to convert a valid AppDir into an AppImage (see https://github.com/AppImage/appimagetool) - **AppImage runtime** — small piece of code embedded in every AppImage that mounts and executes the app (see https://github.com/AppImage/type2-runtime) - **AppImageSpec** — formal specification of the format (see https://github.com/AppImage/AppImageSpec) ## Community Developers and users can join #AppImage on irc.libera.chat. An overview of projects distributing AppImages is available at https://appimage.github.io/apps. Copyright (c) 2004-24 Simon Peter and contributors.