The devs behind the immutable Linux distro Nitrux introduced NX AppHub, a brand-new system that aims to refine how users manage, build, and install applications in Nitrux.
The origins of NX AppHub trace back to January 2024, when Nitrux’s team first unveiled the NX AppImage Build Hub project. Inspired by AppRepo.de—a defunct website that formerly hosted numerous build scripts and AppImages—they attempted to carry the baton by forking those repositories and automatically building applications via GitHub Actions.
Yet, as time passed, external limitations and workforce shortages hindered progress, leading Nitrux to rethink its strategy. The result is NX AppHub, which, according to their documentation, is “a system, not just a single utility,” encompassing several critical components: NX AppHub CLI, NX AppHub Apps, NX AppHub Daemon, and a work-in-progress GUI.
Under the hood, NX AppHub introduces a concept called AppBoxes. Essentially, these are AppImages tailored for Nitrux via curated YAML files from a central Git-based app specification repository (NX AppHub Apps). The difference lies in how AppBoxes are handled: they do not embed AppImageUpdate metadata, and each version is installed in a more predictable, controlled manner.
That way, Nitrux stays true to its “no-package-manager philosophy,” while still allowing developers and end users to keep their software up to date. As part of this new ecosystem, the NX AppHub Daemon runs behind the scenes to integrate AppBoxes smoothly with the desktop environment. Eventually, it is expected to replace appimaged within Nitrux.
What’s more, the developers emphasize that the NX AppHub CLI offers a user-friendly set of commands to install, remove, update, and even downgrade applications—no root privileges are necessary. The CLI also provides a dedicated build option for those who want to build custom AppBoxes from local YAML files.
Moreover, the search command reaches into the central Git-based repository to discover available apps, turning the entire experience into a direct interplay between the CLI and a transparent Git-based system.
From an installation standpoint, Nitrux recommends employing pipx to add NX AppHub CLI and Daemon. In line with the distribution’s lightweight philosophy, pipx is a neat tool that isolates Python applications, making it simpler to run various versions of software. Users may choose between single-user or system-wide installation, and those running older versions of Nitrux can deploy the new tools via containers if they wish.
For more information about the new tool, refer to the announcement.
