ivan-hc/AM 9.2

"AM" 9.2

on GitHub

Update and list portable AppImages scattered in your system!

This release introduces support for AppImage packages integrated with the --launcher option, and allows listing them with the -f option... but let's proceed in order.

Option -f or files

From today, AppImage packages integrated with the --launcher option will be visible in the list

They will be listed with the file name (in the screenshot above I renamed my AppImage of the game "0AD" (available at https://github.com/0ad-matters/0ad-appimage) to 0ad. The file path and its size are also shown.

The detection is done on the fly, so if, like me, you have an AppImage on an external partition that is not mounted, the size will not be calculated, and -f will detect that the path is not accessible.

I advise you to give a nice name to your AppImage... or you will end up like this

But that's not all I'm saying... what if you were to upgrade to a later version? The file name would still be the same, even though it's updated.

And speaking of updates... I know that's what you're here for, right? See below.

Option -u or update and option/flag --launcher

Added support for appimageupdatetool, which allows updating AppImage packages that include the information needed to update themselves via binary deltas.

Since people who normally use --launcher or AppImageLauncher or GearLever... or none of these tools except for the sole purpose of integrating them into the application menu... tend to keep multiple versions of an application... I thought it was not the case to integrate it directly into -u, so you can do it optionally

am -u --launcher

or

am --launcher -u

instead of -u you can use update... it depends on what suits you.

It is important that you install appimageupdatetool for this option to work.

NOTE, I remind you that about 10% of AppImages support delta updates, so if you want to be sure to always have the latest version of all AppImages, rely on the installation options -ia or install-appimage and -e or extra... in addition to -i or install, which is for all portable programs, not just AppImages.

Various fixes

• the installation process checks if there is a "dead" symlink in $HOME/.local/bin with the same name as the topic you are installing, and removes it (since classic installations have the priority over --launcher)
• the detection of "dead" symlinks is more detailed and repetitive, and takes into account whether it is actually the case to remove them
• obsolete launchers and symlinks are re-detected both while running -c and with -f and -u...and with --launcher itself, while you start it... so you have more opportunities to clean them
• the --launcher option detects if a dead symlink or a command in $HOME/.local/bin already exists, and asks you if you want to overwrite it
• the "install.am" installation module has been revamped, preparing for new features planned for the next months
• the -u option has undergone a more thorough code cleanup and precise, new BASH functions have been added to improve interaction, depending on the commands in use
• the messages of end of installation or end of update are also visible if no app as been installed or only apps have been updated (command am -u --apps)
• many commands have been converted to POSIX

Conclusions

The --launcher option is a niche option, that I wrote inspired by any traditional AppImage package manager... and that I ended up using with really large packages that need to be kept on a dedicated partition.

Introducing this feature made me realize that AM can always go further. It all started with an issue, and in less than 24 hours this release came out. I wouldn't have expected it, at this time... if someone hadn't suggested it to me.

I'll continue to use AM as I intended, like APT or PacMan. There are options I've created that I like more or less... and I stress "even though I'm the creator"... and --launcher is one of my least favorites, because it reminds me of the early days, when none of the existing solutions satisfied me... but... damn. I really enjoyed working on it today.

What's Changed

• Update install.am, code refactoring by @ivan-hc in #1168
• Convert option "-ia"/"install-appimage" to a function under "-i" by @ivan-hc in #1169
• Update modules by @ivan-hc in #1170
• "AM" 9.2, improve support to local AppImages giving them updates support (appimageupdatetool) and a dedicated table in -f by @ivan-hc in #1172

Full Changelog: 9.1.3...9.2