Desktop entry files are launchers that can be created easily for Linux executables, including third party applications like AppImages or even users scripts.
In this short video we create a desktop file for the AppImage version of Atom text editor.
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Below is the Atom.desktop file we created which you can use as a template for your own desktop files:
[Desktop Entry]
# Available types of desktop entries: Application, Link and Directory.
Type=Application
# The executable of the application, possibly with arguments.
# note the field code %F, use it for apps that can open several local files at once.
# –no-sandbox option is required for Debian Buster or some derivative distros
Exec=/home/$USER/AppImages/Atom-0-Build6.1.glibc2.17-x86_64.AppImage %F –no-sandbox
Icon=/home/$USER/AppImages/AtomIcon.png
Hidden=false
Name[en_US]=Atom
Name=Atom
GenericName=Code editor
Comment[en_US]=Text editor for development (appimage)
Keywords=Atom;editor;programming;code;appimage
# Available categories: “https://specifications.freedesktop.org/menu-spec/menu-spec-1.0.html#category-registry”
Categories=Office;
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~ Links about Desktop entry files:
[General info]:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Desktop_entries
[Available Entries]:
https://specifications.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/desktop-entry-spec-latest.html#recognized-keys
[Available Categories]:
https://specifications.freedesktop.org/menu-spec/latest/apa.html
[Exec options]:
# we set the %F option in Exec key entry because a text editor should open multiple
# files at the same instance (i.e. there is no need to open a 2nd file at a relaunched Atom)
https://specifications.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/latest/ar01s07.html
~ Some info about the –no-sandbox option in Exec entry:
https://github.com/tutao/tutanota/issues/1565
~ Some links where you can download AppImages:
https://appimage.github.io
https://www.appimagehub.com
https://bintray.com/probono/AppImages
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~ Linux Nomad channel @LBRY:
https://open.lbry.com/@LinuxNomad:d
