AppImage

AppImage is a format for packaging Linux applications as portable, self-contained executables. An AppImage bundles an application and the libraries it needs into a single file that can run on many Linux distributions without installation or root access.

Each AppImage contains a small runtime and a payload. When run, the runtime mounts the contained filesystem (usually SquashFS) and launches the application via AppRun, an entry point inside the bundle. This allows the app to use the libraries packaged with it rather than the host system libraries.

Usage: Download an AppImage, make it executable, and run it. No installation is required, and the host system is not modified unless the program writes data. Desktop tools such as AppImageLauncher can improve integration, and AppImageUpdate can apply updates when provided by the publisher.

Ecosystem: AppImage is maintained by the AppImage project. AppImageHub hosts a central collection of AppImages. The format is cross-distribution and independent of package managers, and is one option among Linux packaging approaches such as Flatpak and Snap.

Limitations: AppImages can be large, since libraries are bundled. Some apps may require additional system capabilities or permissions, and performance may vary. Not all distributions fully support the runtime features used by every AppImage.