Downloads

One table for every install method. Pick the row that matches your system, then follow its verify step. All methods install the same OpenBoxGL application, currently v1.3.0.

Method	Best for	Updates	Verify
AppImage with installer	Desktop, Steam Deck, handhelds, immutable systems	Built-in verified updater	openbox-release.pub Ed25519 plus SHA-256 checksum
AppImage manual	Offline or custom path	Manual re-download	chmod +x then --version or --web
Flatpak	Sandboxed installs	Flatpak workflow	flatpak run io.openbox.GameLauncher
From source	Development, patching	git pull	python3 web_app.py
System install	Install to /usr/local	sudo make install again	openbox --help

AppImage with installer, recommended

The installer pins the release public key, verifies the SHA-256 checksum, and verifies the Ed25519 signature before installing to ~/.local/bin.

VERSION=1.3.0
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 --fail --location \
  --output install.sh \
  "https://github.com/vindeckyy/OpenBoxGL/releases/download/v${VERSION}/install.sh"
less install.sh
OPENBOX_RELEASE_TAG="v${VERSION}" bash install.sh

To launch right after installing:

OPENBOX_RELEASE_TAG="v${VERSION}" bash install.sh --run

Install to a different directory with OPENBOX_INSTALL_DIR, for example OPENBOX_INSTALL_DIR="$HOME/Applications". Omit OPENBOX_RELEASE_TAG only when you intend to track the latest stable release.

Manual download:

chmod +x OpenBox-x86_64.AppImage
./OpenBox-x86_64.AppImage
./OpenBox-x86_64.AppImage --web

If an older AppImage opened then never showed a window after desktop integration, install v0.6.0 or newer, remove the old menu entry, and re-add the AppImage.

Flatpak

flatpak-builder --user --install --force-clean build-dir io.openbox.GameLauncher.yml
flatpak run io.openbox.GameLauncher

The manifest uses the FreeDesktop runtime and grants --filesystem=home, so Steam, Heroic, Lutris, and ROM folders under home remain readable. The Flatpak is not updated by the built-in updater. Rebuild the manifest to update.

From source

git clone https://github.com/vindeckyy/OpenBoxGL.git
cd OpenBoxGL
python3 web_app.py

Requirements: Python 3.10 or newer on Linux with standard desktop tooling. The native window additionally needs WebKitGTK 4.1, make native-host builds native_host. No pip install is required. See .env.example for optional local configuration, never commit secrets.

System install

sudo make install
openbox          # native window, default
openbox --web    # loopback web UI

Prerequisites

Requirement	AppImage	Flatpak	Source
Linux desktop, X11 or Wayland	Yes	Yes	Yes
WebKitGTK for native window	Bundled	Bundled	Required, libwebkit2gtk-4.1
Python	Bundled	Bundled	3.10+
flatpak and flatpak-builder	Not needed	Required	Not needed
git	Not needed	Not needed	Required
FUSE to mount AppImages	Required	Not needed	Not needed
bubblewrap bwrap	Optional, plugins sandboxed when present	Bundled check	Optional

See Installation for prerequisites in detail, Updating for the update flow and rollback with OpenBox-x86_64.previous.AppImage, and Getting started for the first import.