Build an application from a template

Name: abcdesktop.io
Availability: InStock

Goal: Build a custom abcdesktop.io application image by extending an existing template container image.

abcdesktop.io uses the container image format with metadata labels to describe each application.

Requirements

Your own public or private container registry.
nodejs installed on your host.
docker command-line tool installed to build container images.
wget command-line tool installed.

Build your own application image

In this example, the new application image packages the 2048 game. The build process uses a JSON descriptor file and a Node.js script to generate a Dockerfile automatically.

Create a directory named build, and create a directory icons inside it:

mkdir -p build/icons
cd build

To build your own image, first create a JSON descriptor file that defines the application's metadata, package name, and runtime configuration.

Create a file named applist.json inside the build directory with the following content:

[
  {
    "cat": "games",
    "debpackage": "2048-qt",
    "icon": "2048_logo.svg",
    "keyword": "2048",
    "launch": "2048-qt.2048-qt",
    "name": "2048",
    "displayname": "2048",
    "path": "/usr/games/2048-qt",
    "template": "ghcr.io/abcdesktopio/oc.template.ubuntu.gtk.26.04"
  }
]

The table below describes each field in the JSON application descriptor:

name	Type	Data
`cat`	string	games
`debpackage`	string	2048-qt
`icon`	string	2048_logo.svg
`keyword`	string	2048
`launch`	string	2048-qt.2048-qt
`name`	string	2048
`path`	string	/usr/games/2048-qt
`template`	string	ghcr.io/abcdesktopio/oc.template.ubuntu.gtk.26.04

The following descriptions explain how to determine the correct value for each field:

cat is the application category. Choose the most appropriate value from the following list: [ 'office', 'games', 'graphics', 'development', 'utilities', 'education' ]
debpackage is the name of the Ubuntu package to install. To look up the correct package name, refer to 2048 Ubuntu Package.
icon is the filename of the application icon. abcdesktop.io supports only the svg icon format. Download the icon from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/2048_logo.svg.
keyword is a comma-separated list of search keywords for the application. Set the value to 2048.
launch is the X11 WM_CLASS identifier of the application window. To determine this value, run the application on a GNU/Linux system and inspect its window class using a tool such as xprop.
name is the internal application name. Set the value to 2048.
path is the absolute filesystem path to the application binary.
template is the name of the parent base image. The default parent image is ghcr.io/abcdesktopio/oc.template.ubuntu.gtk.26.04. Available templates are listed in the next section.

Build your new image 2048

Download the application icon

wget https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/2048_logo.svg -O icons/2048_logo.svg

Download the Node.js build scripts

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/abcdesktopio/oc.apps/refs/heads/4.4/make.js
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/abcdesktopio/oc.apps/refs/heads/4.4/package.json

Run npm install to install the required packages:

npm i

Run make.js to generate a Dockerfile for the 2048 application. The script reads applist.json and produces a ready-to-build Dockerfile for each entry.

nodejs make.js

The expected output is:

Namespace(dockerfile=false, release='4.4', applicationfile='applist.json')
Read database json file=applist.json
opening file applist.json
applist.json entries: 1
Creating Dockerfile 2048.d

The following file has been generated:

2048.d — the generated Dockerfile for the 2048 abcdesktop.io application

Inspect the content of 2048.d. Verify that all required labels are present and that the icon data is base64-encoded (a binary-to-text encoding scheme used to embed binary assets in text files).

Build the 2048 application image using the docker build command.

Replace the value of REGISTRY with your own registry name if needed.

REGISTRY=abcdesktopio
docker build -f 2048.d -t $REGISTRY/2048.d .

The expected output is:

[+] Building 62.3s (8/8) FINISHED                                                                                                                                                           docker:default
 => [internal] load build definition from 2048.d                                                                                                                                                      0.0s
 => => transferring dockerfile: 3.49kB                                                                                                                                                                0.0s
 => [internal] load metadata for ghcr.io/abcdesktopio/oc.template.ubuntu.gtk.26.04:4.4                                                                                                                0.0s
 => [internal] load .dockerignore                                                                                                                                                                     0.0s
 => => transferring context: 2B                                                                                                                                                                       0.0s
 => CACHED [1/4] FROM ghcr.io/abcdesktopio/oc.template.ubuntu.gtk.26.04:4.4                                                                                                                           0.0s
 => [2/4] RUN echo 'debconf debconf/frontend select Noninteractive' | debconf-set-selections                                                                                                          0.3s
 => [3/4] RUN DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get update && apt-get install -y  --no-install-recommends 2048-qt && apt-get clean && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*                                   59.9s
 => [4/4] RUN if [ -x /usr/bin/dbus-launch ]; then chmod g+r,g+w,o+r,o+w /var/lib/dbus ; fi                                                                                                           0.2s
 => exporting to image                                                                                                                                                                                1.8s
 => => exporting layers                                                                                                                                                                               1.8s
 => => writing image sha256:7804b6c77950a0f43daa13b7b0901eb4b795f984c6d888ab6ef513573b4d3147                                                                                                          0.0s
 => => naming to docker.io/abcdesktop/2048.d

Push your image to your registry

Replace the value of REGISTRY with your own registry name if needed. If you do not have your own registry, you can skip this step but keep REGISTRY=abcdesktopio.

REGISTRY=abcdesktopio
docker push $REGISTRY/2048.d

Create a JSON file from your container image

If you do not have your own registry, do not skip this step. Keep REGISTRY=abcdesktopio.

REGISTRY=abcdesktopio
docker inspect $REGISTRY/2048.d > 2048.json

Push your image to abcdesktop service

Send the image metadata to the abcdesktop pyos instance

NAMESPACE=abcdesktop
PYOS_POD_NAME=$(kubectl get pods -l run=pyos-od -o jsonpath={.items..metadata.name} -n "$NAMESPACE" | awk '{print $1}')
kubectl cp 2048.json $PYOS_POD_NAME:/tmp -n $NAMESPACE
kubectl exec -i $PYOS_POD_NAME -n abcdesktop -- curl -X POST -H 'Content-Type: text/javascript' http://localhost:8000/API/manager/image -d @/tmp/2048.json

These commands retrieve the PYOS_POD name, copy the 2048.json file to the /tmp directory inside the pyos pod, and submit the file to the REST API server.

The image endpoint returns a JSON document

[
  {
    "cmd": [
      "/composer/appli-docker-entrypoint.sh"
    ],
    "path": "/usr/games/2048-qt",
    "sha_id": "sha256:7804b6c77950a0f43daa13b7b0901eb4b795f984c6d888ab6ef513573b4d3147",
    "id": "abcdesktop/2048.d:latest",
    "architecture": "amd64",
    "os": "linux",
    "rules": {},
    "acl": {
      "permit": [
        "all"
      ]
    },
    "launch": "2048-qt.2048-qt",
    "wm_class": null,
    "name": "2048",
    "icon": "2048_logo.svg",
    "icondata": "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",
    "keyword": "2048,2048",
    "uniquerunkey": null,
    "cat": "games",
    "args": null,
    "execmode": null,
    "showinview": null,
    "displayname": "2048",
    "desktopfile": null,
    "executeclassname": null,
    "runtimeClassName": null,
    "executablefilename": "2048-qt",
    "usedefaultapplication": false,
    "mimetype": [],
    "fileextensions": [],
    "legacyfileextensions": [],
    "secrets_requirement": null,
    "containerengine": "ephemeral_container",
    "securitycontext": {},
    "created": "2026-04-08T17:02:15.742581671+02:00"
  }
]

Run your new application 2048

Return to your abcdesktop website at http://localhost:30443 and log in as Anonymous.

In the search bar at the top-right corner, type the keyword 2048.

abcdesktop.io look for 2048 applications

Click the 2048 icon to launch the application:

abcdesktop.io 2048 is running

The application is now running as an ephemeral container inside your abcdesktop.io user pod. Have fun!

Other templates

Because each application runs inside its own dedicated container, you can run applications from multiple Linux distributions simultaneously on the same abcdesktop.io instance. The full template repository is available at https://github.com/abcdesktopio/oc.template.

templates for `almalinux`

oc.template.almalinux.8
oc.template.almalinux.9
oc.template.almalinux.10
oc.template.almalinux.gtk.8
oc.template.almalinux.gtk.10
oc.template.almalinux.gtk.9
oc.template.almalinux.minimal.9
oc.template.almalinux.minimal.10

templates for `alpine`

oc.template.alpine.edge
oc.template.alpine
oc.template.alpine.wine
oc.template.alpine.edge.gtk
oc.template.alpine.edge.gtk.libreoffice
oc.template.alpine.libreoffice
oc.template.alpine.3.23
oc.template.alpine.minimal.3.20
oc.template.alpine.minimal.3.21
oc.template.alpine.minimal.3.22
oc.template.alpine.minimal.3.23
oc.template.alpine.minimal.edge
oc.template.alpine.minimal

templates for `debian`

oc.template.debian.gtk
oc.template.debian
oc.template.debian.minimal

templates for `ubuntu`

oc.template.ubuntu.minimal.20.04
oc.template.ubuntu.minimal.22.04
oc.template.ubuntu.minimal.24.04
oc.template.ubuntu.minimal.26.04
oc.template.ubuntu.gtk.18.04
oc.template.ubuntu.18.04
oc.template.ubuntu.minimal.18.04
oc.template.ubuntu.24.04
oc.template.ubuntu.20.04
oc.template.ubuntu.22.04
oc.template.ubuntu.26.04
oc.template.ubuntu.wine.mswindow
oc.template.ubuntu.libreoffice
oc.template.ubuntu.wine
oc.template.ubuntu.gtk.java
oc.template.ubuntu.gtk.24.04
oc.template.ubuntu.gtk.22.04
oc.template.ubuntu.gtk.20.04
oc.template.ubuntu.gtk.26.04

templates for `rockylinux`

oc.template.rockylinux.gtk.libreoffice.9
oc.template.rockylinux.gtk.9
oc.template.rockylinux.gtk.8
oc.template.rockylinux.8
oc.template.rockylinux.9
oc.template.rockylinux.minimal.8
oc.template.rockylinux.minimal.9

Templates with `nvidia` library support

oc.template.rockylinux.nvidia.8
oc.template.rockylinux.nvidia.9
oc.template.ubuntu.nvidia.24.04
oc.template.ubuntu.nvidia.22.04

You have successfully built your own abcdesktop.io 2048 application.

Build an application from a template

Requirements

Build your own application image

Build your new image 2048

Push your image to abcdesktop service

Run your new application 2048

Other templates

templates for almalinux

templates for alpine

templates for debian

templates for ubuntu

templates for rockylinux

Templates with nvidia library support