Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

AppImageKit VS Micro Python

Compare AppImageKit VS Micro Python and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

AppImageKit logo AppImageKit

Linux apps that run anywhere

Micro Python logo Micro Python

Python for microcontrollers
  • AppImageKit Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-18
  • Micro Python Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-16

AppImageKit features and specs

  • Portability
    AppImage packages can run on most Linux distributions without needing to be installed, ensuring compatibility across various systems.
  • Simplicity
    AppImages do not require root permissions to execute, making it simple for end-users to run applications without administrative access.
  • No Installation Required
    Since AppImages are self-contained executables, users don’t need to worry about installation processes, dependencies, or system changes.
  • Isolation
    Applications packaged as AppImages are isolated from the host system which minimizes conflicts with other installed software.
  • Version Control
    Users can have multiple versions of the same application by downloading different AppImage files, allowing easy testing and use of different releases.

Possible disadvantages of AppImageKit

  • Lack of Dependency Management
    Unlike traditional package managers, AppImage does not handle dependency resolution, which can lead to larger file sizes if all dependencies are bundled.
  • Limited Integration
    Out-of-the-box, AppImages may not integrate seamlessly with the host system’s desktop environment in terms of shortcuts and MIME types.
  • Security Concerns
    Because AppImages run with the same permissions as the user executing them, a malicious AppImage could potentially harm the user's system if not properly verified.
  • Updates
    Unlike some other packaging systems, AppImage does not inherently support automatic updates, requiring manual download of new versions.
  • Non-Native Look
    Applications might not look consistent with other native applications as AppImages bundle their dependencies which may not conform to the host’s theme and settings.

Micro Python features and specs

  • Lightweight
    MicroPython is designed to be a streamlined version of Python, optimized for microcontrollers and small embedded systems. It has a smaller footprint than full Python, making it ideal for constrained environments.
  • Python Compatibility
    MicroPython is largely compatible with standard Python (Python 3.x), which allows developers who are familiar with Python to easily adapt to MicroPython for embedded applications.
  • Real-Time Capabilities
    MicroPython supports real-time operating systems and can handle tasks that require precise timing, making it suitable for controlling hardware directly.
  • Active Community
    MicroPython has a growing community of developers and enthusiasts who contribute to its development, provide support, and share resources and libraries.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    MicroPython can run on a wide range of hardware platforms, including popular boards like ESP8266, ESP32, and Raspberry Pi Pico, offering flexibility for developers.

Possible disadvantages of Micro Python

  • Limited Library Support
    Not all Python libraries are available in MicroPython, and some may require re-implementation or adaptation to work within the constraints of microcontrollers.
  • Performance Constraints
    Due to its lightweight nature and the limited resources of typical target devices, MicroPython may not perform as well as standard Python in terms of speed and processing power.
  • Learning Curve for Hardware Interfacing
    Developers who are new to embedded systems may face a learning curve when it comes to hardware interfacing and understanding the limitations and capabilities of microcontrollers.
  • Memory Limitations
    Microcontrollers have significantly less memory than computers, which can limit the complexity of programs that can be run using MicroPython.
  • Fragmented Development Environment
    Compared to standard Python, the tools and IDE support for MicroPython can be less mature and more fragmented, which may make development more challenging.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AppImageKit and Micro Python)
Front End Package Manager
Education
0 0%
100% 100
Developer Tools
48 48%
52% 52
Software Marketplace
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Micro Python might be a bit more popular than AppImageKit. We know about 81 links to it since March 2021 and only 55 links to AppImageKit. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

AppImageKit mentions (55)

  • Why Flatpak Apps Use So Much Disk Space on Linux
    The equivalent of "Windows portable apps" on Linux isn't flatpaks (these add a bunch of extra stuff and need some sort of support from the OS) but AppImages[0]. AppImages are still not 100% the same (and can never be as Windows applications can rely on A LOT more stuff to be there than Linux desktop apps) but functionally/UX-wise they're the closest: you download some program, chmod +x it and run it like... - Source: Hacker News / 14 days ago
  • NewPipe on Linux, Using Android_translation_layer
    Exciting. I'd love to see AppImage [0] builds of applications produced with this library. [0] https://appimage.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Show HN: Finic – open-source platform for building browser automations
    Like again if you are not sure, what open source means, this is open source: https://appimage.org/ Hope it is abundantly clear with this example. Docker tried it's best to do the whole open source but business first and it led to disastrous results. At best this will make your company suffer and second guess itself and at worst this is moral fraud. Talk to your group partner about this and explain to them as well. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • GoboLinux
    What you're looking for sounds like AppImages (https://appimage.org/) . I have only used them while downloading games from itch.io, etc. (since I prefer package managers) but they seem to work out of the box on popular distros. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Bitwarden Heist – How to Break into Password Vaults Without Using Passwords
    Ideally a new instance of the application is installed for each user. This also provides better isolation if one user upgrades/removes/breaks their application instance. I, for one, have really come around to the AppImage model [0] in the last couple of years. [0] https://appimage.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
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Micro Python mentions (81)

  • Ask HN: What less-popular systems programming language are you using?
    I'll link to it because many people don't know a version of Python runs on microcontrollers: https://micropython.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Tactility: OS for the ESP32 Microcontroller Family
    I'm personally working on something like this for the ESP32, but written on top of micropython [1]. A few things are written in C such as the display driver, but otherwise most things are in micropython. We chose the T-Watch 2020 V3 microphone variant as the platform [2]. Our objective is to build a modern PDA device via a mostly stand-alone watch that can be synced across devices (initially the Linux desktop). We... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Porting Python to a terrible $3 smartwatch [video]
    For context > MicroPython is a lean and efficient implementation of the Python 3 programming language that includes a small subset of the Python standard library and is optimised to run on microcontrollers and in constrained environments. https://micropython.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • RustPython
    Just putting my hand up to say that MicroPython is awesome (and runs on the RP2040). https://micropython.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • about microprocessor
    If you really want to engage in the travesty that is shoehorning a high level scripting language into an environment that has 512 bytes of RAM and less clock cycles than an electric toothbrush, there is micropython. Source: over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing AppImageKit and Micro Python, you can also consider the following products

Flatpak - Flatpak is the new framework for desktop applications on Linux

Mode Python Notebooks - Exploratory analysis you can share

FLATHUB - Apps for Linux, right here

Invent With Python - Learn to program Python for free

Snapcraft - Snaps are software packages that are simple to create and install.

Full Stack Python - Explains programming language concepts in plain language.