{{Short description|Linux executable file format}} {{Infobox file format | name = AppImage | logo = App-image-logo.svg | screenshot = | caption = | extension = .AppImage | magic = {{code|41 49 02}} (3 bytes hexadecimal from offset 8) | developer = Simon Peter | released = {{Start date and age|2004}} | latest release version = continuous | latest release date = {{Start date and age|2025|12|04}} | container_for = Software installation | free = Yes | open = Yes | url = {{URL|https://appimage.org}} }}
'''AppImage''' (formerly known as '''klik''' and '''PortableLinuxApps''') is an open-source format for distributing portable software on Linux. It aims to allow the installation of binary software independently of specific Linux distributions. As a result, one AppImage can be installed and run across various GNU/Linux distributions without needing to use different files. It aims to be a format that is self-contained, rootless, and independent of the underlying Linux distribution.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/simon_peter_interview |title=Free Software Magazine interview with Simon Peter |last=Mobily |first=Tony |publisher=Free Software Magazine |date=2006-04-07 |access-date=2007-05-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070330201107/http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/simon_peter_interview |archive-date=2007-03-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Released first in 2004 under the name klik, it was continuously developed, then renamed in 2011 to PortableLinuxApps and later in 2013 to AppImage. Version 2 was released in 2016.
== Reception and usage ==
In 2015, Linus Torvalds, creator of the Linux kernel, said that "[t]his is just very cool. I finally got around to play with the 'AppImage' version of Subsurface, and it really does seem to 'just work'."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Torvalds |first=Linus |date=2016-02-05 |title=This is just very cool. I finally got around to play with the "AppImage"… |url=https://plus.google.com/+LinusTorvalds/posts/WyrATKUnmrS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205074927/https://plus.google.com/+LinusTorvalds/posts/WyrATKUnmrS |archive-date=2016-02-05 |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Google Plus}}</ref> Mark Shuttleworth stated that "AppImages are a pretty clean experience and I admire the work behind them."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shuttleworth |first=Mark |date=2017-04-09 |title=I would like to thank all of you for your spirit and intellect and energy in ... |url=https://plus.google.com/+MarkShuttleworthCanonical/posts/7LYubpaHUHH |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409021339/https://plus.google.com/+MarkShuttleworthCanonical/posts/7LYubpaHUHH |archive-date=2017-04-09 |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Google Plus}}</ref>
== See also ==
* {{annotated link|Autopackage}} * {{annotated link|List of Linux package management systems}} * {{annotated link|List of portable application creators}} * {{annotated link|ROX Desktop}} * {{annotated link|Snap (software)}} * App (file format) – A HarmonyOS application that makes use of similar principles
== References ==
{{refs}}
== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://appimage.org/}} * [https://appimage.github.io AppImages for various applications by the AppImage developer] * [https://www.linuxuprising.com/2018/04/easily-run-and-integrate-appimage-files.html Easily Run And Integrate AppImage Files With AppImageLauncher]
{{Linux package management systems}}
Category:Linux installation software Category:Linux package management-related software Category:Software distribution Category:Software using the MIT license