[Bug]: AppImage integration with gnome launcher broken #35990

Before submitting#

• I searched existing issues and did not find a duplicate.
• I included enough detail to reproduce or investigate the problem.

Area#

apps/desktop

Steps to reproduce#

When installing t3 code via .AppImage in gnome (Ubuntu 26.10 and 26.04 tested in this case), it doesn't integrate with gnome activities overview launcher, like it is not available to launch/switch in there via the activities launcher.

Even if you manually edit the .desktop file to make it available, every launch of the app overwrites the .desktop with no activities launcher integration.

This makes using t3 code inconvenient to use via the .AppImage in gnome as the activities launcher is the main way in gnome to launch/switch to applications.

Steps to reproduce in gnome (ubuntu 26.10 and 26.04)

1. Download the .AppImage
2. Change the permissions of the .AppImage for it to be launched chmod +x T3-Code-0.1.9-x86_64.AppImage
3. Launch the .AppImage manually via the files app or terminal
4. No integration with the activities overview launcher, you can't launch or switch to t3 code with it.

The fix would be that when the .AppImage creates the .desktop files, it sets NoDisplay=false and adds StartupWMClass=com.t3tools.T3Code.

• Current .desktop the .AppImage creates

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=T3 Code (Beta)
Exec=/home/danielc/Applications/T3-Code-0.1.9-x86_64.AppImage %U
Icon=/home/danielc/.local/share/icons/com.t3tools.T3Code.desktop.png
Terminal=false
NoDisplay=true
StartupNotify=false
MimeType=x-scheme-handler/t3code;

• .desktop fix

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=T3 Code (Beta)
Exec=/home/danielc/Applications/T3-Code-0.1.9-x86_64.AppImage %U
Icon=/home/danielc/.local/share/icons/com.t3tools.T3Code.desktop.png
Terminal=false
NoDisplay=false
StartupNotify=false
MimeType=x-scheme-handler/t3code;
StartupWMClass=com.t3tools.T3Code

The main fixes are this

NoDisplay=false
StartupWMClass=com.t3tools.T3Code

The NoDisplay=false allows launcher integration and StartupWMClass=com.t3tools.T3Code allows switching to the app via the launcher when the app is open.

The path /home/danielc is for my system, this is different for every installation home folder.

Expected behavior#

1. Download the .AppImage
2. Change the permissions of the .AppImage for it to be launched chmod +x T3-Code-0.1.9-x86_64.AppImage
3. Launch the .AppImage manually via the files app or terminal
4. Full integration with the activities overview launcher.
5. When t3 code closed, launch the activities launcher, search for t3 code to launch it.
6. When t3 code already open but other app is in focus, launch the activities launcher, search for t3 code to switch to it.

Actual behavior#

1. Download the .AppImage
2. Change the permissions of the .AppImage for it to be launched chmod +x T3-Code-0.1.9-x86_64.AppImage
3. Launch the .AppImage manually via the files app or terminal
4. No integration with the activities overview launcher, you can't launch or switch to t3 code with it.

Impact#

Blocks work completely

Version or commit#

No response

Environment#

Ubuntu 26.10 (also tested 26.04 with the same result)

Logs or stack traces#

Screenshots, recordings, or supporting files#

No response

Workaround#

Even if you manually edit the .desktop file to make it available, every launch of the app overwrites the .desktop with no activities launcher integration, so in regards of the .AppImage there is no workaround.

Install t3 code with the .deb and apply the one shot fix in here https://github.com/pingdotgg/t3code/issues/27257#event-35822844264

The caveat of using the .deb is that to update you need to enter your sudo password in t3 code.