I Think I Like AppImages More Than Snaps And Flatpaks

AppImages are self-contained applications which can simply be downloaded, made executable, and t run on almost any GNU/Linux distribution. Their ease-of-use has won me over.
REFERENCED:
► www.appimagehub.com/ - AppImageHub
► github.com/TheAssassin/AppIma... - AppImageLauncher
► www.appimagehub.com/p/1298369/ - AppImage Installer
► www.appimagehub.com/p/1355468/ - App Outlet
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Your support is very much appreciated. Thanks, guys!

[@Stephen-yd7ce]

having to go find the url and paste it in the CLU defeats the purpose of using the CLU. thats a shame.

[@DistroTube]

The CLI appimage installer has a search function: app search "whatever" It returns a list of matches including a "target" for them so you can: app install "target"

[@Stephen-yd7ce]

@@DistroTube oh ok, nice. will give it a try.

[@Morokiane]

Appimage is the way to go. There is a reason why MacOS programs are essentially appimages...with no extra software needed to run.

[@RANDOMNAME-kj1zv]

Sort of, but not quite. Mac OS X .app programs are bundles, but they aren’t compressed like appimages are which means appimages will take up even smaller space, but the contents are not editable. Mac Program bundles have become quite flimsy though and now still install crap all over your computer. Completely agree though. Appimages are the way to go, and if not, it’ll be some similar form of Appdir with editable contents.

[@AlucardNoir]

Did DT just use GUI to make sure an .appimmage was executable? Who are you and what have you done with DT?

[@DistroTube]

This is a kinder, gentler DT that is looking out for the noob as much as the command line elitist.

[@AbduleeFtw]

Ikr like wtf

[@cranknlesdesires]

@@DistroTube I don't trust this is really DT, like come on people this man is bald and DT has gone on record saying that he isn't.

[@ronsingh]

Here, here! Yes, show AppImage some love! Hands down, my fav of the containerized app packaging, easy to use, no political drama -- thanks Monsieur DT.

[@CrustyAbsconder]

Thank you for the video. The # 1 thing I like about appimages is that when you delete them they are gone, and #2 is that it is so simple to delete them. You can have two of the same appimages with different versions and delete the version you don't like. Unfortunately, I use Fedora. LOL ! And the appimagelauncher is not available, and finding Fedorans to talk to about appimages is like walking around in the Sahara desert hoping to find a cold refreshing bottle of "Mountain Valley Spring Water," and a bowl of Cajun crawfish etoufee.

[@rfrancoi]

WOW! Very informative video. Thank you.

[@joelchrono]

App Images are awesome indeed, I hope it grows more and more soon

[@craigw4644]

Best part about AppImages, they don't update unless you tell it too and if the updates don't work, it's easy to pick a version that does work. Good posting! Yes, I know we can tag regular applications not to update, but reverting is not always easy.

[@myhandlehasbeenmishandled]

I didn't know that. How do you do that?

[@craigw4644]

@@myhandlehasbeenmishandled Most appImages have all the versions listed. Kaden Live is a good example. Some of the upgrades don't work as well as older versions, just find the version that works best on your system and done. AppImages take up a lot of space, but being self contained is a benefit.

[@gentooman]

Yes, AppImage ftw! It's about time FOSS people realize that in order to compete with windows/osx, desktop linux needs a way to distribute apps that is on the same ease-of-use level. If you can't download+click an app to run it, the OS is not easy to use. AppImages make linux feel like a real desktop OS.

[@zeniktorres4320]

Exactly. I've saying this for the last 20 years. The linux world is very slow moving. I have installed 2 appimage apps on my opensuse tumbleweed and it works well. But I would like to see improvements, so I hope that appimage is not stagnate, but I fear that there will be no improvements.

[@Galileo964]

Hey dude your channel is awesome!

[@DistroTube]

Hey, thanks!

[@larry_the]

I like your cut, G.

[@peppe540]

Just in time delivery, DT, thanks! Using Joplin and Etcher as app-images and was 'struggling' a little with Etcher (showing up in menu etc). Appimage launcher fixed all that ;-)

[@DistroTube]

Great to hear!

[@1MinuteFlipDoc]

this was a good reminder for me to update my flatpaks. mission accomplished!

[@taidee]

Yeah AppImages are really cool, they are going make finding and installing apps on Linux even more accessible to the average user. Thanks for the advice on tools DT.

[@ezequielortiz4188]

I have used app images on Linux mint and Debian and have worked very good, very easy to install too, never had a problem before with app images, so I like them a lot too!

[@chue98]

how to convert already installed software to appimage?For example.My ubuntu install odio.but this software already not support,although still can snap install odio but can`t use because can`t search any radio channel

[@eltoniozamora2898]

Hey DT great video once again... Off topic do you have any videos on nextcloud

[@nikkehtine]

AppImages are cool but we need a central appimages installer and updater program that would be adopted by major distros

[@eijentwun5509]

There already is but all it does is copy it to a common directory and put it in the Menu....Appimage don't need installation.

[@Phydoux2112]

One thing I noticed a while back, in Awesome, I have to restart Awesome after I install something in order for that program I had just installed to be in the menu. So, install, then right click for the menu then Awesome > Restart or use the keybindings for the restart (Mod+Shift+r).

[@hermannpaschulke1583]

Nice run gcc shirt :D

[@nostep3966]

appimage ftw. Love having my apps on a flash drive to just copy onto any new system i use.

[@SteveMacSticky]

thanks for the info. now I can integrate the appimages into my system better

[@vitorazevedo4472]

Great video! Every Linux user should learn that.

[@henrymach]

Yes. AppImage FTW. If only they could solve the theming problem they would be perfect Electron apps on the other hand are cancer

[@maddancing]

Hi what file browser/manager is DT using in this video?

[@Drazil100]

Can you by chance cover how to package an Appimage? Not every developer is going to support Appimages but they have some fantastic benefits mainly in that they can run really old versions of software. As much as I love linux it unfortunately has some serious problems with backwards compatibility. Windows can run basically run almost any program that was ever written for it but with linux the dependencies are always getting updates to the point where non-rolling releases require an entirely new package base every couple of years.

[@leobrocato3230]

@ dt The command line installer is gone

[@elHosed]

I was just recently exposed to this when I went to install FreeCAD 0.19 (All the repos that weren't snaps were 0.18 and this was Mint 20 and I hadn't enabled snaps yet). Ended up on their site and saw the Appimage download. Was intrigued, tried it out, it reminded me of Snaps, but better (download file, run, no package manager necessary, etc). The only complaint I had was the lack of integration into my Menu system. Obviously I had NO idea about the collection of tools to go with AppImages. I hope more developers move towards these. It truly is the future of app distribution.

[@derisis13]

Hmm, I created a small c command-line program to create .desktop files for appimages and software I compiled or wrote. It doesn't come up as a launc option like the appimage launcher does though and it has no gui, so maybe I'll try it out...

[@herlocksholmes3129]

DT, the idea behind AppImages is obviously great, but the implementation might have some shortcomings, give you an example. I have a desktop with an SSD for the KDE Neon O/S and four 4TB HDDs for general data storage. I store my KeePassXC's database in one of these HDDs. If I use the KeePassXC via its AppImage, it does not see any of the HDDs, all it sees is the boot drive, and hence, I cannot access my database, but the moment I install KeePassXC via the deb package, it sees all available drives. This might be due to the containerized application being sandboxed, not sure, but it is definitely an issue.

[@smile768]

I tried to use the balena etcher Appimage (Debian Buster) and nothing happens when you double click, not even an error message. I can only it run from terminal with no sandbox flag. Any fix that anyone knows about?

[@studiokadaver]

Oh this seems very cool.

[@learningbird9940]

Thanks Derek. Could you compare appimages, flatpaks and snaps in terms of size in the hard drive and memory consumed?

[@aaronrennyvargheseOriginal]

Snaps take more storage, flatpaks take more space than snaps, and AppImages takes space dependent on the software.

[@phenelz1ne]

Hey DT, I don't know if you will read this (probably not) but I wanted to say that the appimage installer is no longer available on the appimage hub. I wanted to ask if I still can install it somewhere, because even after some research I still couldn't find it

[@felipe7454]

why Applications directory instead of /opt for instance ?

[@braelinmichelus]

I've always added AppImages to my /opt directory. That or /home/.local/appimages. Either works for me. I always write my own .desktop files anyway, so it's no problem.

[@davvood01]

AppImages are love!

[@enderger5308]

What about NixPkgs or the Guix package manager?

[@gabolujan]

How do you update appimages? Do you have to manually update them and then repeat the process of opening through appimage launcher?

[@DistroTube]

The cli AppImage Installer tool has an update function. So you can: cd ~/Applications app update * (assuming you want to check everything for updates)

[@gabolujan]

@@DistroTube great!

[@viennakrakatoaleipzignumbers]

A lot of AppImages are self-updating too, eg. Standard Notes They check for updates and install on launch.

[@study6326]

@@DistroTube It didn't work. It gives this error: "This application desn't provide any update information".

[@fullscale4me]

There are some Linux distributions that have Flatpack programs as a part of their Package Managers like my current laptop which has MX Linux 19.2. The MX Package Installer lists 1,039 Flatpacks being available from flathub. For me these utilities in your video still have use for any Flatpacks downloaded elsewhere. That number of Flatpacks is quite low in comparison to the MX Linux Stable repository which has 58, 784 programs available. The driving justification for Flatpacks in my workflow is getting the latest version [7.x.x] of the Libre Office suite. Some distributions have 6.4.x version and a few have 6.1.x version.

[@anupkodlekere3633]

What status bar is that?

[@celestialadministration]

Manjaro kde edition is fantastic for this feature. Crazy good.

[@olegcherkasky2755]

So, appimages are basically the .exe install file equivalent of Linux. Linux keeps getting the conveniences of Windows without the bullshit.

[@MarkKrubsack]

Good explanation. No longer a mystery. Question: how do AppImages get updated to newer versions? Can it be done automatically?

[@scality4309]

Want to know also?

[@ankanroy2931]

Nice

[@faizanahmad5464]

I tried pcmanfm but doesn't the bell sound everytime you hit backspace annoys you? If someone know how to disable it pls tell me

[@johnjax5614]

Add "blacklist pcspkr" to /etc/modprobe.d/nobeep.conf (you probably need to create the file) Also add "xset -b" to your xinitrc/xprofile/whatever startup file you have

[@wilfridtaylor]

I imagine guix will have a tool like run-appimage in nixos. This works by creating a shell that has an environment like a standard linux system so it can run.

[@phaedrus2633]

I tried to download App Outlet several ways, and I'm getting a lot of "no file found" error messages. I see that this video is two years old. Is the App Outlet app obsoiete? Never mind, I got it. What a lot of gymnastics though, to find and application. I'll just never get used to the whole git environment.

[@rphuntarchive1]

I wanted an up to date copy of Musescore, and turns out their site has the AppImage version as the download. Works fine, and is more up to date than what is in Apt. The only inconvenience is setting it as execute, creating the .desktop file, and downloading an icon. But now Rofi finds it and runs it no problem.

[@viddyscene]

Any idea how I can include AppImage applications in the dmenu?

[@DistroTube]

Dmenu (when using dmenu_run) only lists executable binaries in /bin and /usr/bin. It does not list .desktop files. But I'm sure you could create a dmenu script to list your .desktop files. Wouldn't take but a few lines of shell scripting.

[@DistroTube]

Here is a Perl script that does what you want: github.com/Eelis/i3/blob/master/i3-dmenu-desktop Copy that script, make it executable, and use this instead of dmenu_run.

[@sabbateus]

Just symlink the appimages into your /bin directory, as thats what dmenu_run looks through

[@rtsa4633]

Although I enjoy flatpaks as my main source of applications and my favorite standard. I do also like app images. I don't mind them when I use them since they're incredibly easy to manage and get your head around. I avoid using snaps though as I don't want to use different standards and have everything as one standard. Though app image is fine seeing how simple it is.

[@Tn5421Me]

Coming into this video, my only problem with AppImages is in the difficulty in keeping them up to date relative to flatpaks.

[@TerryLawrence001]

I prefer appimages and will use that version of an app over all other.

[@edwardnihal248]

how to update appimages when a new version of software arrive?

[@LuismaLorca]

Use flatpak for that and don't fall for the memes.

[@JosephSaintClair]

I see the success of Linux smartphones being through AppImages. I also see AppImageTools getting better at providing patches, so Linux smartphones don’t need to re download all apps all over again when there’s an update. Multi GB app updates on smartphones just plain sux. Be even better if appimages can be runtime isolated by default as well. Like wrapped in LXC/LXD.

[@fuseteam]

fled for the title, came for the thumbnail

[@davidlewisjohnson4235]

AppImages should be the standard for agnostic package formats. They're simply the best.

[@baldpolnareff7224]

Using the AppImage Launcher would create entries for rofi as well, right?

[@DistroTube]

I don't have rofi installed at the moment but I believe rofi does read the .desktop files, so it should add them.

[@baldpolnareff7224]

@@DistroTube Confirmed, this works with 'rofi -show drun' too, awesome

[@32gigs96]

package managers are obsolete. these containers make software reproducibility trivial, improve security and make updates smooth. the future of linux is to throw away all the options we have and start to centralize around a good few if you want to grow.

[@soulofhogwarts]

I am waiting for AppImage for virtualbox.

[@ReloadedK]

Same. Appimages can be convenient as hell

[@user-ys9gv6pi9j]

Simple... Core OS, X11 & ROX. ROX handles AppImage very well. AppImages add everything to OS.

[@Linuxfreakgraz]

I use AppImages. It work's well.

[@scality4309]

I like them also.

[@censoredterminalautism4073]

Never used any of them, but they do seem to be the best option for this kind of thing, even if the word APP makes me irrationally angry and I need to hit my Steve Jobs punching bag or dartboard a few times every time I see it.

[@lowrider298]

Calm down and do as we do. Make a drinking game out of it ;-) APP = drink --> fun.

[@censoredterminalautism4073]

@@lowrider298 The Steve Jobs voodoo doll is going to pay for that one.

[@podroznik2214]

Is the performance of AppImages worse than native linux apps?

[@pushqrdx]

i agree, appimages are much like macOS .app, and i really like them

[@ohio2440]

Description Error.

[@bogdanlupu3679]

I see appimages more stable. Here I think is about how they are packed. Sadly I dont know yet how to pack an app.

[@johncrunk8038]

I was going to agree with you. Then I hit the problem with Nextcloud and Appimage. It appears that Nextcloud client is only available on Linux as an Appimage; but I can't get it to automatically start on a fresh boot with Gnome. It works on KDE. Sigh. I seem to be not the only one who has found this gotcha. So much for a great idea.

[@DistroTube]

Seems like more of an issue with GNOME than appimage. ;)

[@greob]

I've always preferred AppImages to other formats.

[@AbduleeFtw]

Honestly for me looking up online for an appimage is way too much pain. I would rather use flatpak install or use a normal package manager. Ps. anyone can put anything into an app image it is just an executable which I dont like very much since it can have some security issues

[@greob]

@@AbduleeFtw This is very true, but the same applies to npm packages, python packages, actually any package downloaded through a package manager. Unless you build everything yourself, this is no different.

[@ahmadshahzad5635]

@@AbduleeFtw so people can't just put anything in flatpaks and snaps?

[@hussainkhorakiwala517]

lol i agree

[@cosmo_4785]

repo>aur>appimage>flatpak>built_from_source no snaps

[@enderger5308]

One of the big problems that AppImage needs to solve is that they are tied to the CPU architecture as binaries.

[@thierrybo6304]

If you use a rolling release or Debian testing/unstable you don't need appimages/snaps because packages are up to date.

[@matthewweber4162]

Oooooh can I be that Arch user who just says, AUR, bro? AUR, bro.

[@DRIVING_ME_CRAZY]

Appimages are convenient to use but not convenient to maintain.

[@AbduleeFtw]

Yeah they are probably only good when u wanna just use and dump a program...

[@eijentwun5509]

Appimages are my #1 choice AFTER .deb and Binary Files.... Better than Flatpak and SNAP.......HOWEVER...Someone at the top is Ruining AppImages permanently..... they are no longer UNIVERSAL.....mainly because newer ones require glibc2.28 or higher...which is utterly unecessary or can be inluded in the AppImage itself. In other words... Many No longer work with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS...... What The Hell then? this is sad because I will have to default to Flatpak. I managed to convince one software developer to Stop Using Glibc2.28 requirements and just fallback to whatever way they were formerly creating AppImages, and he did...at least for now. Shotcut Video editor creators Also Lisentened and are making corrections as we speak!

[@matthiasschuster9505]

You know that Snaps are proprietary on the server side?

[@rupesh5300]

I HATE SNAP. specially how it tries to sandbox and creates so many partitions on drive

[@UnworthyUnbeliever]

Dont forget default auto update

[@marioschroers7318]

You're not going to convince me this time, sir. I prefer my distro-specific packages.

[@chessgo5028]

3:16 "Applications" directory is not in your home directory it is in home/dt/ directory. pls be more careful with these things, for beginners it is so difficult to understand these kind of things.

[@kveresh1593]

First! :)

[@reesericdotci]

snaps are crap, ms store for linux

[@fuseteam]

not really, ms store is vendor lock in. snaps has an escape hatch given enough effort, time and manpower

[@kajetanpietrzak4004]

first like ;)

[@webbonyoutube]

Not first

[@webbonyoutube]

@@commietube_censorship_sucks silence liberal

[@SamSam-df4xp]

I don't know what to say!!! Snap, appimages are just absolutely stupid. Its my take.

[@aaronrennyvargheseOriginal]

...

[@zyan983]

Snaps & AppImages are completely different...

[@ricknaam5658]

agreed, imagine having such a shitty package manager that they seem like a good idea

[@aaronrennyvargheseOriginal]

@@ricknaam5658 Agreed. I prefer AppImages more than snaps. Flatpaks are quite good.

[@ricknaam5658]

@@aaronrennyvargheseOriginal Im saying all 3 are bad, use your distros package manager

[@chessgo5028]

I have just started with Linux but I am so tired already. is this OS for those people who will do nothing but just play with their computers, all the time trying to fix things. if you are ready to spend 30-50% of your productive time for figuring out how to do things instead of actually doing things then go ahead use Linux.

[@ig_foobar]

Richard Stallman is a disgrace. God bless Linux/Linux.

[@MichaelMantion]

Stallman is god. You are upset because he said we should have a conversation about the age of consent. Saying we need to talk about the senate. it doesn't mean you are for against the current senate just that we should talk about it. You can be against pedophilia and still think we should talk about age of consent and other related issues. Get a life.

Balena Etcher is malware, stop recommending it.