AppImages and GNOME desktop launchers

AppImages are how a lot of apps are distributed on Linux these days but there isn’t an established “install this AppImage so I can launch it” pattern.

Install this AppImage so I can launch it (GNOME edition)#

1. Download your favourite AppImage from a trusted publisher
2. Move the file to /opt/<my app>/<app>.AppImage
3. Make the AppImage executable chmod +x /opt/<my app>/<app>.AppImage
4. Download an icon for your app, or extract the app icon from the AppImage and put it in /opt/<my app>/<app>.png
5. Create a GNOME Desktop Launcher file in ~/.local/share/applications

    [Desktop Entry]
    Name=My App
    Comment=A Description
    Exec=/opt/<my app>/<app>.AppImage --no-sandbox
    Icon=/opt/<my app>/<app>.png
    Terminal=false
    Type=Application
    Categories=Utility;
   

6. Update GNOME’s desktop file entries: sudo update-desktop-database
7. Open your app