Automate the integration of Cursor .AppImage on Linux: updates .desktop, manages icons, ensures the latest version, and configures AppArmor (Required for Ubuntu 24.04).

cursor_appimage_manager.sh

#!/bin/bash

set -euo pipefail

# Definition of colors for terminal output
readonly RED_COLOR="\e[31m"
readonly GREEN_COLOR="\e[32m"
readonly YELLOW_COLOR="\e[33m"
readonly BLUE_COLOR="\e[34m"
readonly MAGENTA_COLOR="\e[35m"
readonly RESET_COLOR="\e[0m"

# General settings
readonly DOWNLOAD_APP_DIR="$HOME/Downloads/.AppImage"
readonly ICON_DIR="$HOME/.local/share/icons"
readonly ICON_URL="https://www.cursor.com/brand/icon.svg"
readonly DESKTOP_FILE_PATH="$HOME/.local/share/applications/cursor.desktop"
readonly APPARMOR_PROFILE="/etc/apparmor.d/cursor-appimage"
readonly DOWNLOAD_URL="https://downloader.cursor.sh/linux/appImage/x64"
readonly TEMP_DIR="/tmp/AppImage"
readonly VERSION_CHECK_TIMEOUT=10

cursor_appimage_path=""
cursor_icon_path=""

# Support function to print steps
print_step() {
  echo -e "${YELLOW_COLOR}$1${RESET_COLOR}"
}

# Support function to print success
print_success() {
  echo -e "${GREEN_COLOR}$1${RESET_COLOR}"
}

# Support function for error handling
error_exit() {
  echo -e "${RED_COLOR}$1${RESET_COLOR}" >&2
  kill $$
}

# Check necessary dependencies
check_dependencies() {
  print_step "Checking necessary dependencies..."
  for cmd in curl chmod find mkdir wget; do
    if ! command -v "$cmd" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
      error_exit "This script requires $cmd, but it is not installed.\nPlease install it with 'sudo apt install $cmd' and try again."
    fi
  done
  print_success "All necessary dependencies are installed."
}

# Function to get the name of the latest version available for download
fetch_online_version() {
  local HEADERS=$(timeout $VERSION_CHECK_TIMEOUT wget -S "$DOWNLOAD_URL" -q -O /dev/null 2>&1)
  local FILENAME=$(echo "$HEADERS" | grep -o -E 'filename="[^"]+"' | sed 's/filename="//;s/"//')

  if [[ -n "$FILENAME" ]]; then
    echo "$FILENAME"
  else
    error_exit "Failed to fetch the latest version. If your connection is slow, try increasing \"VERSION_CHECK_TIMEOUT\"."
  fi
}

# Function to get the path of latest version of the AppImage in the local directory
get_path_local_version() {
  mkdir -p "$DOWNLOAD_APP_DIR" # Ensure the directory exists
  local appimage_files
  mapfile -t appimage_files < <(find "$DOWNLOAD_APP_DIR" -name 'cursor-*.AppImage' -printf '%T@ %p\n' | sort -nr | cut -d' ' -f2-)
  if [ "${#appimage_files[@]}" -eq 0 ]; then
    return 0
  fi
  echo "${appimage_files[0]}"
}

# Search for the most recent AppImage file path
fetch_app_path() {
  print_step "Searching for the most recent AppImage path of cursor.sh"
  local appimage_files
  mapfile -t appimage_files < <(find "$DOWNLOAD_APP_DIR" -name "cursor-*.AppImage" -printf '%T@ %p\n' | sort -rn | cut -d' ' -f2-)
  if [ "${#appimage_files[@]}" -eq 0 ]; then
    echo -e "${RED_COLOR}No cursor.sh AppImage files found in $DOWNLOAD_APP_DIR/${RESET_COLOR}"
    error_exit "You need to download the latest version first (OPTION 1) and run this script again."
  fi
  cursor_appimage_path=${appimage_files[0]}
  print_success "Path found: $cursor_appimage_path"
}

# Download the application icon
download_logo() {
  print_step "Downloading the logo"
	cursor_icon_path="$ICON_DIR/cursor-icon.svg"
  mkdir -p "$ICON_DIR"
  if ! curl -s -o "$cursor_icon_path" "$ICON_URL"; then
    error_exit "Failed to download the logo from $ICON_URL"
  fi
  print_success "Logo downloaded: $ICON_DIR/cursor-icon.svg"
}

# Create the .desktop file for the application
create_desktop_file() {
  print_step "Creating the .desktop file"
  cat <<-EOF >"$DESKTOP_FILE_PATH"
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Cursor
Exec=$cursor_appimage_path
Icon=$cursor_icon_path
Categories=Utility;Development
Terminal=false
StartupWMClass=Cursor
X-AppImage-Version=latest
Comment=Cursor is an AI-first coding environment.
MimeType=x-scheme-handler/cursor;
EOF
  print_success "Desktop file created: $DESKTOP_FILE_PATH"
}

# Configure the AppArmor profile for the application
create_apparmor_profile() {
  local appimage_path=${1-""}
  if [[ -z $appimage_path ]]; then
    appimage_path=$(get_path_local_version)
    if [[ -z "$appimage_path" ]]; then
      error_exit "No local version found. Please download the latest version first (OPTION 1) and run this script again."
    fi
  fi
  print_step "Configuring the AppArmor profile..."
  cat <<-EOF | sudo tee $APPARMOR_PROFILE > /dev/null
# This profile allows everything and only exists to give the
# application a name instead of having the label "unconfined"

abi <abi/4.0>,
include <tunables/global>
profile cursor $appimage_path flags=(unconfined) {
  userns,
  # Site-specific additions and overrides. See local/README for details.
  include if exists <local/cursor>
}
EOF
  sudo apparmor_parser -r $APPARMOR_PROFILE || error_exit "Failed to apply the AppArmor profile."
  print_success "AppArmor profile successfully configured for $appimage_path"
}

# Main function that checks and downloads the latest version if it is not yet locally present
check_and_download_version() {
  print_step "Checking for updates and downloading if a newer version is available"
  check_dependencies
  mkdir -p "$DOWNLOAD_APP_DIR" # Ensure the directory exists

  local filename_local_version
  local path_local_version=$(get_path_local_version)

  if [[ -z "$path_local_version" ]]; then
    echo -e "${YELLOW_COLOR}No local version found. A new version will be downloaded.${RESET_COLOR}"
  else
    filename_local_version=$(basename "$path_local_version")
    echo -e "${BLUE_COLOR}Latest local version: ${filename_local_version}${RESET_COLOR}"
  fi

  # Gets the name of the latest online version
  echo -e "${YELLOW_COLOR}Searching for the latest version. Please wait...${RESET_COLOR}"
  local filename_online_version=$(fetch_online_version)
  local path_online_version="$DOWNLOAD_APP_DIR/$filename_online_version"

  # Compares versions and downloads if necessary
  if [[ -z "$path_local_version" ]] || [[ "$filename_local_version" != "$filename_online_version" ]]; then
    echo -e "${YELLOW_COLOR}A new version is available: ${RESET_COLOR}${GREEN_COLOR}$filename_online_version${RESET_COLOR}"
    echo -e "${YELLOW_COLOR}Downloading the newest version...${RESET_COLOR}"
    wget --quiet --show-progress --content-disposition -P "$DOWNLOAD_APP_DIR" --trust-server-names "$DOWNLOAD_URL"
    echo -e "${GREEN_COLOR}Download completed: ${path_online_version}${RESET_COLOR}"

    if [[ -f "${path_online_version}" ]]; then
      chmod +x "${path_online_version}"
      echo -e "${GREEN_COLOR}Made the AppImage executable: ${path_online_version}${RESET_COLOR}"
      echo -e "${MAGENTA_COLOR}Now run the script again and choose option 2 to install the latest version.${RESET_COLOR}"
    else
      error_exit "Downloaded AppImage file not found at ${path_online_version}"
    fi
  else
    echo -e "${GREEN_COLOR}No download needed — your local version ($filename_online_version) is the most current.${RESET_COLOR}"
  fi
}

# Function to search and prepare the AppImage
fetch_and_prepare_appimage() {
  check_dependencies
  fetch_app_path
  download_logo
  create_desktop_file
  create_apparmor_profile
  echo -e "${GREEN_COLOR}Application installed and ready to use.${RESET_COLOR}"
}

# Function to create the AppArmor profile
setup_apparmor_profile() {
  check_dependencies
  fetch_app_path
  create_apparmor_profile
}

# Interactive menu
PS3='Please choose an option: '
options=(
  "Fetch the latest version and download (if not already present)"
  "Re/Install the latest downloaded version"
  "Just configure AppArmor (Required for Ubuntu 24.04)"
  "Exit"
)
select opt in "${options[@]}"
do
  case $opt in
    "Fetch the latest version and download (if not already present)")
      check_and_download_version
      ;;
    "Re/Install the latest downloaded version")
      fetch_and_prepare_appimage
      ;;
    "Just configure AppArmor (Required for Ubuntu 24.04)")
      setup_apparmor_profile
      ;;
    "Exit")
      break
      ;;
    *) echo "Invalid option $REPLY";;
  esac
done

Automated Cursor App Manager for Linux Desktops

This Bash script streamlines the integration of the Cursor app in Linux environments by automating several cumbersome manual steps. It is designed for users who frequently update the Cursor .AppImage and wish to simplify the process.

Why This Script?

Created in response to the tedious manual updates required for Linux users of the Cursor app, this script offers a comprehensive, interactive solution not found in other similar gists. It addresses common frustrations by automating the entire update and integration process, allowing you to manage the Cursor app more effectively and with significantly less manual intervention.

Installation and Usage Instructions

• Prepare the Script Directory:
  • Create a directory for scripts if it doesn't exist: mkdir -p $HOME/scripts
  • Navigate to this directory: cd $HOME/scripts
• Script Setup:
  • Create a new file named cursor_appimage_manager.sh: touch cursor_appimage_manager.sh
  • Open this file in your text editor and paste the script content.
  • Give the script execution permission: chmod +x cursor_appimage_manager.sh
• Running the Script:
  • From your terminal, run the script: ./cursor_appimage_manager.sh
  • Follow the on-screen prompts to update or manage your Cursor app.

Creating an Alias:

For easier access, you can create an alias in your .bashrc or .zshrc file:

• Open your shell configuration file in an editor, e.g., nano $HOME/.bashrc or nano $HOME/.zshrc
• Add the following line at the end of the file: alias cursorupdate='$HOME/scripts/cursor_appimage_manager.sh'
• Save the file and reload your shell configuration: source $HOME/.bashrc or source $HOME/.zshrc
• Now, you can simply type cursorupdate in your terminal to run the script.

Key Features:

• Automatic Updates: Downloads the latest Cursor .AppImage automatically, keeping your application up-to-date.
• Desktop Integration: Ensures desktop shortcuts always launch the latest version by managing symlinks.
• Icon Management: Downloads or updates the Cursor app icon as necessary.
• .desktop File Management: Manages the .desktop file for seamless integration into the Linux desktop.

Customization:

Constant	Default Value	Description
DOWNLOAD_APP_DIR	$HOME/Downloads/.AppImage	Directory where AppImages are stored.
ICON_DIR	$HOME/.local/share/icons	Directory to store the app icons.
ICON_URL	https://www.cursor.com/brand/icon.svg	URL to download the app's icon.
DESKTOP_FILE_PATH	$HOME/.local/share/applications/cursor.desktop	Path for the desktop shortcut file.
APPARMOR_PROFILE	/etc/apparmor.d/cursor-appimage	Path for the AppArmor profile configuration file.
DOWNLOAD_URL	https://downloader.cursor.sh/linux/appImage/x64	URL to download the latest AppImage version.
TEMP_DIR	/tmp/AppImage	Temporary directory for initial downloads.
VERSION_CHECK_TIMEOUT	10	Time in seconds to fetch file headers. Adjust based on your internet speed—increase for slow connections, decrease for faster ones.

Screenshots:

Downloading the Latest Cursor App Version

Local Version Is Up-to-Date

Reinstalling or Updating to the Latest Downloaded Version

Error: No Downloaded Version Available

This error occurs if no .AppImage files are found in the designated download directory, or if you haven't run the script using option 1 first. To resolve this, simply run the script again and choose option 1 to download the latest version before proceeding.

---

I hope this gist proves helpful to others as well. It's one of my first contributions, and I look forward to making more tools that can assist the community. Feedback and improvements are always welcome!

Really helpful script, Thanks!

Just a quick question, should you not be making the app image executable instead of .desktop file here? I had to do that manually

great work

Thanks for the script. I'd recommend to make the app image file executable as soon as it's downloaded (add something like chmod +x *.AppImage)

Thanks so much, @gjain-7 and @DreamCasterX, for the helpful suggestions!

I’ve made sure the AppImage is now automatically set as executable after downloading, so no need to do it manually anymore. It didn't really make sense to make the .desktop file executable—good catch! I also took the chance to improve how the script grabs the latest version's filename and made other improvements.

Really appreciate the feedback—it helped make the script better! Feel free to share any other thoughts or ideas anytime—always happy to improve it further. 😃 👍

thanks for making this. This is super helpful!

I run the script successfully on Ubuntu 24.04.1, but Cursor cannot be launch from Application. How to fix it?

root@user-B760M-DS3H:~/scripts# ./cursor_appimage_manager.sh

1. Fetch the latest version and download (if not already present) 3) Just configure AppArmor (Required for Ubuntu 24.04)
2. Re/Install the latest downloaded version 4) Exit
   Please choose an option: 2
   Checking necessary dependencies...
   All necessary dependencies are installed.
   Searching for the most recent AppImage path of cursor.sh
   Path found: /root/Downloads/.AppImage/cursor-0.41.3x86_64.AppImage
   Downloading the logo
   Logo downloaded: /root/.local/share/icons/cursor-icon.svg
   Creating the .desktop file
   ./cursor_appimage_manager.sh: line 103: /root/.local/share/applications/cursor.desktop: No such file or directory

The icon is out of date, the rest works perfectly, thank you very much!

The icon is out of date, the rest works perfectly, thank you very much!

readonly ICON_URL="https://mintlify.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/cursor/images/logo/app-logo.svg"

It is working properly , thanks a lot !

That worked well. thank you

This is perfect, thank you

Works like a charm! Thank you very much man!

Please choose an option: 1
Checking for updates and downloading if a newer version is available
Checking necessary dependencies...
All necessary dependencies are installed.
Latest local version: cursor-0.42.3x86_64.AppImage
Searching for the latest version. Please wait...
No download needed — your local version (cursor-0.42.3x86_64.AppImage) is the most current.
Please choose an option: 2
Checking necessary dependencies...
All necessary dependencies are installed.
Searching for the most recent AppImage path of cursor.sh
Path found: /root/Downloads/.AppImage/cursor-0.42.3x86_64.AppImage
Downloading the logo
Logo downloaded: /root/.local/share/icons/cursor-icon.svg
Creating the .desktop file
./cursor_appimage_manager.sh: line 103: /root/.local/share/applications/cursor.desktop: No such file or directory

worked seamlessly! thank you very much!

This is amazing! 🔥 Thanks.

Million thanks

Worked like a charm, thank you ❤️

You're one the coolest people for sure.

Thanks, this is nice. Any way to get rid of double title bars?

Everything on script worked well, but after cursor installation cannot launch the cursor app on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Anyone got the same issue?

Output of the option 2

Checking necessary dependencies...
All necessary dependencies are installed.
Searching for the most recent AppImage path of cursor.sh
Path found: /home/user/Downloads/.AppImage/cursor-0.42.4x86_64.AppImage
Downloading the logo
Logo downloaded: /home/user/.local/share/icons/cursor-icon.svg
Creating the .desktop file
Desktop file created: /home/user/.local/share/applications/cursor.desktop
Configuring the AppArmor profile...
AppArmor profile successfully configured for /home/user/Downloads/.AppImage/cursor-0.42.4x86_64.AppImage
Application installed and ready to use.

Everything on script worked well, but after cursor installation cannot launch the cursor app on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Anyone got the same issue?

Yea, here as well.. The icon is created in the app menu. I think it even worked for a bit on first install, not sure. But I since only use terminal to start it, or once started, pin the icon in dash