appimage-builder

July 26, 2025 · View on GitHub

GNU/Linux packaging made easy! ™

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW MAINTAINER https://github.com/AppImageCrafters/appimage-builder/issues/381

What is it?

It's a tool for packing applications along with all of its dependencies using the system package manager to obtain binaries and resolve dependencies. It creates a self-sufficient and portable bundle using the AppImage format.

Features:

  • Real GNU/Linux packaging. (no more distro packaging)
  • Simple recipes.
  • Simple workflow.
  • Backward and forward compatibility.
  • One binary, many target systems.

Projects using appimage-builder

Zeal Kstars LocalSend MystiQ MAUI Saber ProtonUp-QT

Developers

If you want to contribute, you can install this project from source like this:

(After cloning the repository)

Requirements

This project requires python 3.8 to work!

1. Using pipenv

you can use pipenv (installed through pip) to simplify the process of setting up a virtual environment.

  1. Create a virtual environment:
pipenv shell

if you do not have python 3.8 installed you can use another version like so:

pipenv shell --python path/to/python
  1. Install the dependencies:
pipenv install
  1. Add the current directory to the list of python modules:
export PYTHONPATH="`pwd`"

At this point you should be able to run appimage-builder by running pipenv run appimagebuilder!

2. Manual Installation

For those who don't want to use pipenv there's a requirements.txt file that contains all the dependencies.

Next you need to add the current directory to the list of python modules:

export PYTHONPATH="`pwd`"

Then you can run the project like so:

python appimagebuilder/__main__.py

Notes

  • This project uses the Black code formatter.