AppImageLauncher

AppImageLauncher is a Linux utility that improves the handling of AppImage software by adding desktop integration and centralized management of AppImages. It is designed to make AppImages behave more like native applications within a desktop environment.

The tool watches AppImage files that are downloaded or launched from the file system. When an AppImage is run or dragged into a file manager, AppImageLauncher can prompt the user to integrate it into the system. If accepted, it creates a desktop entry and can optionally relocate the AppImage to a dedicated directory, turning the AppImage into a launcher that appears in application menus and can be started like other installed programs.

AppImageLauncher uses standard desktop entry mechanisms and integrates with common Linux desktop environments. By generating appropriate .desktop files and handling icons and launcher data, it enables AppImages to be searchable, categorized, and launched from the system menu. It aims to provide consistent behavior across environments such as GNOME, KDE, and Xfce, and to manage the lifecycle of the launcher when the AppImage is moved, updated, or removed.

The project is open source and distributed via GitHub, part of the broader AppImage ecosystem. It is intended to complement AppImages by simplifying their installation, integration, and removal. Availability generally includes packages for multiple distributions and options to build from source, reflecting the cross-distro nature of Linux software packaging.