From 0ce04cd0e69fe2d8e482c64876ee76249c16b87c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: David Hedlund Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:54:54 +0200 Subject: [PATCH 1/4] Update install-gnu.md: Added AM AppImage management guide --- docs/guides/install-gnu.md | 65 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++- 1 file changed, 64 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/docs/guides/install-gnu.md b/docs/guides/install-gnu.md index 0105779543..d9846d83d1 100644 --- a/docs/guides/install-gnu.md +++ b/docs/guides/install-gnu.md @@ -18,7 +18,70 @@ installing RetroArch on systems running the GNU/Linux kernel. --- -## Flatpak (suitable for most Linux distributions) +## AppImage (suitable for most GNU/Linux distributions) + +### AM + +[AM](https://github.com/ivan-hc/AM) is a powerful command-line package manager for managing AppImage software. It allows users to install, update, and remove AppImages either system-wide or locally without manual setup. + +1. Installation + +There are no system packages available for AM in common repositories, so it must be installed manually. + +Follow the official installation instructions provided at: https://github.com/ivan-hc/AM + +During setup, you’ll be prompted to choose one of two installation modes: + +* Option 1: AM – for system-wide AppImage management (requires root privileges). +* Option 2: appman – for local, user-level AppImage management (no root access required). + +Choose the option that best suits your environment and permissions. + + +2. Searching for AppImages + +Once installation is complete, verify that AM or AppMan is working by performing a search. +Use the appropriate command depending on your installation: + + +``` +# For system-wide installation +am -q retroarch + +# For user-level installation +appman -q retroarch +``` + +This query searches for available AppImages matching “retroarch” and displays a list of results. +Example output: + +`` +$ appman -q retroarch + + SEARCH RESULTS FOR "RETROARCH": + + ◆ retroarch-nightly : RetroArch is a free and open-source, cross-platform frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications. + ◆ retroarch-qt-nightly : RetroArch is a free and open-source, cross-platform frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications. + ◆ retroarch-qt : RetroArch is a free and open-source, cross-platform frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications. + ◆ retroarch : RetroArch is a free and open-source, cross-platform frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications. +``` + +3. Installing an AppImage + +To install your chosen AppImage, use the -i flag. +For example, to install the RetroArch Nightly build (ideal for testing or bug reporting): + +`appman -i retroarch-nightly` + +AM or AppMan will automatically download, validate, and integrate the AppImage into your environment. + +4. Notes and Recommendations + +* Nightly builds are recommended when submitting bug reports or testing new features. +* Stable releases are better suited for everyday use. +* Use the same tool (am or appman) for all lifecycle tasks—installation, updates, and removal. + +## Flatpak (suitable for most GNU/Linux distributions) Flatpak is a distribution-agnostic packaging format with broad support throughout the Linux ecosystem. An official [RetroArch From 438b831286b7da47145d50620b61e41a2facb3c3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: David Hedlund Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:57:22 +0200 Subject: [PATCH 2/4] Update install-gnu.md closed code block --- docs/guides/install-gnu.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/docs/guides/install-gnu.md b/docs/guides/install-gnu.md index d9846d83d1..f30e5aba36 100644 --- a/docs/guides/install-gnu.md +++ b/docs/guides/install-gnu.md @@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ appman -q retroarch This query searches for available AppImages matching “retroarch” and displays a list of results. Example output: -`` +``` $ appman -q retroarch SEARCH RESULTS FOR "RETROARCH": From b3d401a9bed6f344332d93ec56a913e369d4c29e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: David Hedlund Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2026 02:47:03 +0200 Subject: [PATCH 3/4] Update install-gnu.md * Added **am** installation, search, installation (`-i`), and update (`-u`) instructions for AppImages under the Linux setup guide. * Included options for both stable and nightly builds, explaining that multiple versions can coexist side-by-side. * Documented global update commands (`am -u` / `appman -u`) as well as targeted package updates. * Highlighted that targeting `retroarch-nightly` aligns well with the official bug report template's recommendation for testing builds. --- docs/guides/install-gnu.md | 65 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--------- 1 file changed, 50 insertions(+), 15 deletions(-) diff --git a/docs/guides/install-gnu.md b/docs/guides/install-gnu.md index f30e5aba36..07c08be2e6 100644 --- a/docs/guides/install-gnu.md +++ b/docs/guides/install-gnu.md @@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ installing RetroArch on systems running the GNU/Linux kernel. There are no system packages available for AM in common repositories, so it must be installed manually. -Follow the official installation instructions provided at: https://github.com/ivan-hc/AM +Follow the official installation instructions provided at: [https://github.com/ivan-hc/AM](https://github.com/ivan-hc/AM) During setup, you’ll be prompted to choose one of two installation modes: @@ -37,19 +37,18 @@ During setup, you’ll be prompted to choose one of two installation modes: Choose the option that best suits your environment and permissions. - 2. Searching for AppImages Once installation is complete, verify that AM or AppMan is working by performing a search. Use the appropriate command depending on your installation: - ``` # For system-wide installation am -q retroarch # For user-level installation appman -q retroarch + ``` This query searches for available AppImages matching “retroarch” and displays a list of results. @@ -58,24 +57,60 @@ Example output: ``` $ appman -q retroarch - SEARCH RESULTS FOR "RETROARCH": + SEARCH RESULTS FOR "RETROARCH": + + ◆ retroarch-nightly : RetroArch is a free and open-source, cross-platform frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications. + ◆ retroarch-qt-nightly : RetroArch is a free and open-source, cross-platform frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications. + ◆ retroarch-qt : RetroArch is a free and open-source, cross-platform frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications. + ◆ retroarch : RetroArch is a free and open-source, cross-platform frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications. - ◆ retroarch-nightly : RetroArch is a free and open-source, cross-platform frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications. - ◆ retroarch-qt-nightly : RetroArch is a free and open-source, cross-platform frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications. - ◆ retroarch-qt : RetroArch is a free and open-source, cross-platform frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications. - ◆ retroarch : RetroArch is a free and open-source, cross-platform frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications. ``` 3. Installing an AppImage -To install your chosen AppImage, use the -i flag. -For example, to install the RetroArch Nightly build (ideal for testing or bug reporting): +To install your chosen AppImage, use the `-i` flag followed by the specific package name. For example, you can install either the stable release (for everyday use) or the Nightly build (ideal for testing): + +```bash +# For system-wide installation (Stable) +am -i retroarch + +# For system-wide installation (Nightly) +am -i retroarch-nightly + +# For user-level installation (Stable) +appman -i retroarch + +# For user-level installation (Nightly) +appman -i retroarch-nightly +``` + +4. Updates + +To update RetroArch, use the `-u` (or `--update`) flag. Running the update command without specifying a package name will update all installed AppImages managed by the tool: -`appman -i retroarch-nightly` +```bash +# Update all system-wide AppImages +am -u + +# Update all user-level AppImages +appman -u + +``` + +Alternatively, you can target a specific package to update only that application. Since the [official bug report template](https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/blob/master/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/01-bug-report.yml) encourages using the latest AppImage, using `retroarch-nightly` is a great example for keeping your testing build up to date: + +```bash +# For system-wide installation +am -u retroarch-nightly + +# For user-level installation +appman -u retroarch-nightly + +``` -AM or AppMan will automatically download, validate, and integrate the AppImage into your environment. +> **Note:** Make sure to use the exact package name that you originally installed (e.g., `retroarch`, `retroarch-nightly`, `retroarch-qt`, or `retroarch-qt-nightly`). -4. Notes and Recommendations +5. Notes and Recommendations * Nightly builds are recommended when submitting bug reports or testing new features. * Stable releases are better suited for everyday use. @@ -97,7 +132,7 @@ installed in just three easy steps: flatpak --installations ``` -1. Confirm that the Flathub repository is configured as a [flatpak +2. Confirm that the Flathub repository is configured as a [flatpak remote][flatpak-remote], so that packages from it may be installed. You can examine the flatpak remotes currently enabled on your system with this terminal command (shown with default output): @@ -116,7 +151,7 @@ installed in just three easy steps: sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo ``` -1. Finally, install the RetroArch Flatpak. You have the option of making it +3. Finally, install the RetroArch Flatpak. You have the option of making it available to only the current user, with this command: ``` shell From 85a3516350c97cea7584acc85c318575bd5627d5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: David Hedlund Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2026 05:34:42 +0200 Subject: [PATCH 4/4] Update install-gnu.md wording --- docs/guides/install-gnu.md | 4 +++- 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/docs/guides/install-gnu.md b/docs/guides/install-gnu.md index 07c08be2e6..4e3559bfba 100644 --- a/docs/guides/install-gnu.md +++ b/docs/guides/install-gnu.md @@ -97,7 +97,9 @@ appman -u ``` -Alternatively, you can target a specific package to update only that application. Since the [official bug report template](https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/blob/master/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/01-bug-report.yml) encourages using the latest AppImage, using `retroarch-nightly` is a great example for keeping your testing build up to date: + +Alternatively, you can target a specific package to update only that application. This is especially useful if you have multiple Continuous Integration (CI) AppImages of other software installed that you rarely use. Since the [official bug report template](https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/blob/master/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/01-bug-report.yml) encourages using the latest AppImage, updating just `retroarch-nightly` to test your issue on the latest build before reporting is recommended: + ```bash # For system-wide installation