Flatpak
Introduction
In short, Flatpak is new technology for building and installing applications on the Linux Desktop. Its goal is to revolutionize the Linux desktop ecosystem and to overcome the application distribution problem on the Linux Desktop. Ideally, there will be a Linux app store in the future, where GNU/Linux distributions can obtain third-party applications.
Besides Flatpak, there is the Flathub website. Flathub is a build and distribution service for Flatpak applications. Its goal is to act as a central hub for making desktop applications available to users.
To download desktop applications on a Linux-based system, download the repository file and add it to your system with GNOME Software or the Flatpak command line.
Installation
On Debian-based systems flatpak can be installed as follows:
apt install flatpak
On Arch-based systems flatpak can be installed as follows:
pacman -S flatpak
Basic Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
flatpak install <app> |
Install an application or runtime |
flatpak uninstall <app> |
Uninstall an application or runtime |
flatpak update |
Update an application or runtime |
flatpak list |
List installed applications or runtimes |
flatpak info <app> |
Show informoation about installed application or runtime |
flatpak run <app> |
Run an application |
flatpak remote-add |
Add a remote repository |
flatpak remote-delete |
Delete a remote repository |
flatpak remote-modify |
Modify a remote repository |
flatpak remote-list |
List remote repositories |
flatpak remote-ls |
Show available runtimes and applications |
Proprietary Software
Spotify
flatpak install --from https://flathub.org/repo/appstream/com.spotify.Client.flatpakref
Steam
flatpak install --from https://flathub.org/repo/appstream/com.valvesoftware.Steam.flatpakref
Skype
flatpak install --from https://flathub.org/repo/appstream/com.skype.Client.flatpakref
GNOME Applications
- Make sure you have the GNOME runtimes repository:
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists gnome https://sdk.gnome.org/gnome.flatpakrepo
- Add the GNOME applications repository:
flatpak remote-add gnome-apps https://sdk.gnome.org/gnome-apps.flatpakrepo
Builder:
flatpak install --from https://git.gnome.org/browse/gnome-apps-nightly/plain/gnome-builder.flatpakref?h=stable
Gedit:
flatpak install --from https://git.gnome.org/browse/gnome-apps-nightly/plain/gedit.flatpakref?h=stable
Documents:
flatpak install --from https://git.gnome.org/browse/gnome-apps-nightly/plain/gnome-documents.flatpakref?h=stable