From 1acbf5ba45d1b1eef8a86f42a0503e597e33437e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Elian Doran <contact@eliandoran.me>
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:26:24 +0300
Subject: [PATCH] feat(electron): generate appimage (closes #409)

---
 .github/actions/build-electron/action.yml |  18 +++-
 apps/desktop/scripts/build-appimage.sh    | 101 ++++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 118 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
 create mode 100755 apps/desktop/scripts/build-appimage.sh

diff --git a/.github/actions/build-electron/action.yml b/.github/actions/build-electron/action.yml
index 58fa9743a5..d4dfc5b570 100644
--- a/.github/actions/build-electron/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/build-electron/action.yml
@@ -66,12 +66,20 @@ runs:
     if: ${{ inputs.os == 'linux' }}
     shell: ${{ inputs.shell }}
     run: |
-      sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install rpm flatpak-builder elfutils
+      sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install rpm flatpak-builder elfutils libfuse2
       flatpak remote-add --user --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
       FLATPAK_ARCH=$(if [[ ${{ inputs.arch }} = 'arm64' ]]; then echo 'aarch64'; else echo 'x86_64'; fi)
       FLATPAK_VERSION='24.08'
       flatpak install --user --no-deps --arch $FLATPAK_ARCH --assumeyes runtime/org.freedesktop.Platform/$FLATPAK_ARCH/$FLATPAK_VERSION runtime/org.freedesktop.Sdk/$FLATPAK_ARCH/$FLATPAK_VERSION org.electronjs.Electron2.BaseApp/$FLATPAK_ARCH/$FLATPAK_VERSION
 
+  - name: Install appimagetool
+    if: ${{ inputs.os == 'linux' }}
+    shell: ${{ inputs.shell }}
+    run: |
+      APPIMAGETOOL_ARCH=$(if [[ ${{ inputs.arch }} = 'arm64' ]]; then echo 'aarch64'; else echo 'x86_64'; fi)
+      wget -q "https://github.com/AppImage/appimagetool/releases/download/continuous/appimagetool-${APPIMAGETOOL_ARCH}.AppImage" -O /usr/local/bin/appimagetool
+      chmod +x /usr/local/bin/appimagetool
+
   - name: Update build info
     shell: ${{ inputs.shell }}
     run: pnpm run chore:update-build-info
@@ -90,6 +98,14 @@ runs:
       TARGET_ARCH: ${{ inputs.arch }}
     run: pnpm run --filter desktop electron-forge:make --arch=${{ inputs.arch }} --platform=${{ inputs.forge_platform }}
 
+  - name: Build AppImage
+    if: ${{ inputs.os == 'linux' }}
+    shell: ${{ inputs.shell }}
+    env:
+      TRILIUM_ARTIFACT_NAME_HINT: TriliumNotes-${{ github.ref_name }}-${{ inputs.os }}-${{ inputs.arch }}
+      APPIMAGE_EXTRACT_AND_RUN: "1"
+    run: bash apps/desktop/scripts/build-appimage.sh ${{ inputs.arch }}
+
   # Add DMG signing step
   - name: Sign DMG
     if: inputs.os == 'macos'
diff --git a/apps/desktop/scripts/build-appimage.sh b/apps/desktop/scripts/build-appimage.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..d4016ce134
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/scripts/build-appimage.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# Build an AppImage from the packaged Electron app.
+#
+# Usage: ./build-appimage.sh [arch]
+#   arch: x64 or arm64 (default: x64)
+#
+# Prerequisites:
+#   - The Electron app must already be packaged via `electron-forge make` or `electron-forge package`
+#   - appimagetool must be available in PATH
+#
+# Environment variables:
+#   TRILIUM_ARTIFACT_NAME_HINT: If set, used as the base name for the output file
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+DESKTOP_DIR="$(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/.." && pwd)"
+FORGE_DIR="$DESKTOP_DIR/electron-forge"
+
+ARCH="${1:-x64}"
+EXECUTABLE_NAME="trilium"
+PRODUCT_NAME="Trilium Notes"
+
+# Map architecture names
+case "$ARCH" in
+    x64)   APPIMAGE_ARCH="x86_64" ;;
+    arm64) APPIMAGE_ARCH="aarch64" ;;
+    *)     echo "Unsupported architecture: $ARCH"; exit 1 ;;
+esac
+
+# Find the packaged app directory
+PACKAGED_DIR="$DESKTOP_DIR/out/$PRODUCT_NAME-linux-$ARCH"
+if [ ! -d "$PACKAGED_DIR" ]; then
+    echo "Error: Packaged app not found at $PACKAGED_DIR"
+    echo "Run 'electron-forge make' or 'electron-forge package' first."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "Building AppImage from: $PACKAGED_DIR"
+
+# Create AppDir structure
+APPDIR="$DESKTOP_DIR/out/$PRODUCT_NAME.AppDir"
+rm -rf "$APPDIR"
+mkdir -p "$APPDIR"
+
+# Copy the packaged app contents into the AppDir
+cp -a "$PACKAGED_DIR"/. "$APPDIR/"
+
+# Create the AppRun entry point
+cat > "$APPDIR/AppRun" << 'APPRUN_EOF'
+#!/bin/bash
+HERE="$(dirname "$(readlink -f "$0")")"
+exec "$HERE/trilium" "$@"
+APPRUN_EOF
+chmod +x "$APPDIR/AppRun"
+
+# Create the .desktop file
+cat > "$APPDIR/$EXECUTABLE_NAME.desktop" << DESKTOP_EOF
+[Desktop Entry]
+Name=$PRODUCT_NAME
+Comment=Build your personal knowledge base with Trilium Notes
+GenericName=Note Taking Application
+Exec=$EXECUTABLE_NAME %U
+Icon=$EXECUTABLE_NAME
+Type=Application
+StartupNotify=true
+StartupWMClass=$PRODUCT_NAME
+Categories=Office;Utility;
+DESKTOP_EOF
+
+# Copy the icon (AppImage expects it at the root of AppDir)
+if [ -f "$FORGE_DIR/app-icon/png/256x256.png" ]; then
+    cp "$FORGE_DIR/app-icon/png/256x256.png" "$APPDIR/$EXECUTABLE_NAME.png"
+elif [ -f "$APPDIR/icon.png" ]; then
+    cp "$APPDIR/icon.png" "$APPDIR/$EXECUTABLE_NAME.png"
+else
+    echo "Warning: No icon found"
+fi
+
+# Determine output filename
+UPLOAD_DIR="$DESKTOP_DIR/upload"
+mkdir -p "$UPLOAD_DIR"
+
+if [ -n "${TRILIUM_ARTIFACT_NAME_HINT:-}" ]; then
+    OUTPUT_NAME="${TRILIUM_ARTIFACT_NAME_HINT//\//-}.AppImage"
+else
+    VERSION=$(node -e "console.log(require('$DESKTOP_DIR/package.json').version)")
+    OUTPUT_NAME="TriliumNotes-v${VERSION}-linux-${ARCH}.AppImage"
+fi
+
+OUTPUT_PATH="$UPLOAD_DIR/$OUTPUT_NAME"
+
+# Build the AppImage
+echo "Creating AppImage: $OUTPUT_PATH"
+ARCH="$APPIMAGE_ARCH" appimagetool "$APPDIR" "$OUTPUT_PATH"
+
+# Clean up the AppDir
+rm -rf "$APPDIR"
+
+echo "AppImage created successfully: $OUTPUT_PATH"