Building & Installing AppImageLauncher from Source on Mint Linux 22.1 LTS "Xia" / Ubuntu 24.04 LTS "Noble Numbat"

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Building & Installing AppImageLauncher from Source on Mint Linux 22.1 LTS "Xia" / Ubuntu 24.04 LTS "Noble Numbat"

Fulfilling the standard build, make, & install dependencies:
$ sudo apt install
make
cmake
libglib2.0-dev
libcairo2-dev
librsvg2-dev
libfuse-dev
libarchive-dev
libxpm-dev
libcurl4-openssl-dev
libboost-all-dev
qtbase5-dev
qtdeclarative5-dev
qttools5-dev-tools
patchelf
libc6-dev
libc6-dev
gcc-multilib
g++-multili

Manually Build and Install argagg from Source
Since argagg isn't in the official repos, clone and install it:
$ cd ~
$ git clone https://github.com/vietjtnguyen/argagg.git
$ cd argagg
$ mkdir build && cd build
$ cmake .. -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr/local -DARGAGG_BUILD_TESTS=OFF
$ make
$ sudo make install

Additionally gpgme is needed:
$ sudo apt install libgpgme-dev
The following additional packages will be installed:
libassuan-dev
The following new packages will be installed:
libassuan-dev libgpgme-dev
$ pkg-config --modversion gpgme # should output:
1.18.0

Clean & Rebuild AppImageLauncher
If needed, go back to your AppImageLauncher build directory and clean it:
$ cd ~/AppImageLauncher/build
$ rm -rf *

(Re)configure with CMake:
$ cmake ..
-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="/usr/local"
-DUSE_BUNDLED_LIBS=true
Make & Make Install:
$ make -j$(nproc)
$ sudo make install

Build and install were a complete Success!

Verification:
$ /usr/local/bin/AppImageLauncher --appimagelauncher-version
AppImageLauncher version 3.0.0-alpha-4 (git commit 0bcc75d), built on 2025-08-29 13:01:39 UTC

Packaging AppImageInstaller as a *.deb Package

Since cpack is not a standalone package — it's part of CMake,
it comes with the cmake package you already installed.

Configure CMake with Proper Packaging Settings:
$ cd ~/AppImageLauncher/build
$ rm -rf *

$ cmake ..
-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr
-DUSE_BUNDLED_LIBS=true
-DCPACK_GENERATOR=DEB
-DCPACK_PACKAGE_NAME=appimagelauncher
-DCPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION=3.0.0-alpha-4
-DCPACK_PACKAGE_CONTACT="[email protected]"
-DCPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_MAINTAINER="Your Name"
-DCPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_SECTION=utils
-DCPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_PRIORITY=optional
-DCPACK_PACKAGE_DESCRIPTION="Desktop integration for AppImages"
-DCPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_DEPENDS="libfuse2, libgtk-3-0, libx11-6, libxext6, libxpm4, libcurl4, libgpgme11, libboost-filesystem1.74.0, libboost-thread1.74.0, libboost-date-time1.74.0, libboost-iostreams1.74.0"
-DBUILD_TESTING=OFF

Build Again:
$ make -j$(nproc)

Run CPack — But Force the Main Package:
$ cpack -G DEB
$ make install DESTDIR=/tmp/test-install
$ find /tmp/test-install -type f

You should see:
/tmp/test-install/usr/bin/AppImageLauncher
/tmp/test-install/usr/bin/appimagelauncherd
/tmp/test-install/usr/share/applications/appimagelauncher.desktop
/tmp/test-install/usr/share/icons/hicolor/...

Key Files Installed

Main GUI
/tmp/test-install/usr/bin/AppImageLauncher
Daemon
/tmp/test-install/usr/bin/appimagelauncherd
Settings GUI
/tmp/test-install/usr/bin/AppImageLauncherSettings
CLI Tool
/tmp/test-install/usr/bin/ail-cli
Desktop Files
/tmp/test-install/usr/share/applications/.desktop
Icons
/tmp/test-install/usr/share/icons/hicolor//apps/AppImageLauncher.png
Man Page
/tmp/test-install/usr/share/man/man1/AppImageLauncher.1
Systemd Service
/tmp/test-install/usr/lib/systemd/user/appimagelauncherd.service
MIME Type
/tmp/test-install/usr/share/mime/packages/appimage.xml
Libraries
/tmp/test-install/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/appimagelauncher/

Go to Default Location in the Packaging Tree

$ cd /tmp
$ ls /tmp/appimagelauncher-deb/usr/bin/

Output should be:
AppImageLauncher AppImageLauncherSettings appimagelauncherd ail-cli

Create the DEBIAN/ Control Directory:
$ mkdir -p /tmp/appimagelauncher-deb/DEBIAN

Create the control File:
$ cat > /tmp/appimagelauncher-deb/DEBIAN/control << 'EOF'
Package: appimagelauncher
Version: 3.0.0-alpha-4
Section: utils
Priority: optional
Architecture: amd64
Maintainer: Your Name [email protected]
Homepage: https://github.com/TheAssassin/AppImageLauncher
Depends: libfuse2, libgtk-3-0, libx11-6, libxext6, libxpm4, libcurl4, libgpgme11, libboost-filesystem1.74.0, libboost-thread1.74.0, libboost-date-time1.74.0, libboost-iostreams1.74.0, systemd
Description: Seamless integration of AppImages into the desktop
AppImageLauncher integrates AppImages into your desktop environment
by providing file association, menu entries, icons, and auto-updates.
It supports one-click integration and background daemon management.
EOF

Set Permissions:
$ chmod 644 /tmp/appimagelauncher-deb/DEBIAN/control
Build the .deb Package:
$ dpkg-deb --build /tmp/appimagelauncher-deb /tmp/appimagelauncher_3.0.0-alpha-4_amd64.deb
Now test:
$ AppImageLauncher --appimagelauncher-version

Final Output

You now have:
/tmp/appimagelauncher_3.0.0-alpha-4_amd64.deb
Copied to the desktop:
$ cp /tmp/appimagelauncher_3.0.0-alpha-4_amd64.deb ~/Desktop/

Final Testing:
$ sudo dpkg -i /tmp/appimagelauncher_3.0.0-alpha-4_amd64.deb

It will spit out:
dpkg: Dependency problems prevent configuration of appimagelauncher:
appimagelauncher depends on libboost-thread1.74.0; however:
Package libboost-thread1.74.0 is not installed.

Fix Missing Dependencies
$ sudo apt install -f

When all dependencies are fulfilled, expect the following confirmation:
Setting up appimagelauncher (3.0.0-alpha-4)...