When to use Flatpak

When to install a native program, use a container, or build from source? .

[ransan]

I default to Flatpak now, with some exceptions:

- My primary browser, because desktop portals don't support Native Messaging Hosts yet, I need it for the KDE Connect extension.

- Apps where I need to be familiar with the folders it creates in many locations. A good example of this is Steam. Game files, save files... when I follow guides online related to Steam files I get accurate instructions on where to find things.

[logicalfundy]

I use flatpaks whenever possible. Sure, system stuff is managed by the package manager but I don't mess with system stuff.

[motoryzen]

Flatpak programs also make it VERY easy to create single item shortcut launchers.

One great example is for individual games.

Xenu for first gen Xbox, pcsx2 for PS2, dolphin...the list goes on

Flatpakprogram exact launcher command plus a single spacebar press plus '/path/to/game's

The end...easily done

[Noam_Kinrot]

Using flatpak for any and all internet use-cases, makes inherent sense to me. However, the controls of flatseal, especially if upgraded (more granular), leads me to try and adopt it for any all there is (I don't need my calculator to use the internet, nor other packages. I would like to even be able to control the use-case in which flatpaks are allowed to communicate outside, like for updates (not just that they are allowed to communicate, but for what reason). This is just as an additional layer of safety. I'm even thinking now of trying to create a flatpak for xviewer, xreader and xed which I love (simple and to the point). -I would appreciate your thught on the matter.

[beaubastion]

I default to Flatpak nowadays then native apps. I think the real beauty in containerized apps are immutable distros like Fedora Silverblue for the average person who just wants a working system haha

[vergil-am]

I wanna know about the performance difference and the app size of using flatpaka

[bjurne]

For example, installing Steam as flatpak means you can only install games to the same directory where steam is installed, whilst installing as snap makes Stean automatically detect other drives. Sure you can fiddle with permissions and such, but it's super annoying. There should be configurable default permission levels for flatpak so that apps like Steam can install with access to other drives by default.

[gklinger]

Could just use Discord in a browser...

[robertoguerra]

Why didn’t statically linked library execs have a comeback, it we were worrying about compatibility?

[Widur]

Flatpaks have been a nightmare for me as linux beginner. The fact that they are containarized makes it in insanely confusing when a n app simply doesn‘t work properly because the flatpak doesn‘t have acess to stuff on the system. If its just file access to certain directories to open files thats manageable with flatseal but pycharm as a flatpak was so confusing to me for not being able to use the system interpreter or any interpreters installed on the system that i straight up removed it.

[carminator]

lol i just installed neovim from flatpak and tried to figure out how to configure it (i'm newbie with vim stuff) and your video just comming now. Perfect timing 😂👍

[gwgux]

I break it down into two categories: User applications and system applications.

For user applications flatpak is great. Keeps things isolated and you can run the same version of the program on any distro.

For system applications, flatpak is not the way to go. I count command line text editors and most command line utilities as system applications. They're the ones that multiple users need and they often get used in scripting so an isolated flatpak is not idea for them.

There are some exceptions as nothing is ever 100%, but that's generally where I break them down. Depending on the situation, I may want a non-flatpak version of an app if it needs to integrate into the desktop for a better user experience a certain way or I may have a specific command line app that I want to keep tucked away and isolated without having to go through manually isolating it.

[KertaDrake]

Makes me wonder if there's some version of containers that could be configured to provide loads of junk data to the data-farming companies...

[kyledupont]

Is there a performance difference between say, an RPM install or a snap of the same app? I'm trying to clean up my system as i'm new and I just kind of threw a bunch of install commands and downloaded crap from all over in a disorganized fashion. I would like some continuity in the system for example I don't even know how I installed steam, it works but it doesn't show as an installed program in my discovery store. Is this something I should even be concerned about?

[areksaata]

Yesterday I was installing Nobara Linux and I followed your advice regarding the installation of Discord through Flatpak. Flatseal was also helpful. Thank you for the advice. I have a question about RHEL and what happened recently: What do you think about BSD? I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to this matter and I would like to know your thoughts on BSD. Thank you for the great videos and live streams.

[DG-kswn]

Good explanation Titus. Your videos are really cool :)

But I have a question, expecially to flatpak and the isolation of those: I have installed steam via flatpak.

I know it is isolated and therefore has Problems getting external drives for more storage for the steam library...Is there any way you can do a little guide on that how to get steam games to work on an external or another partition?

I tried some solitions but cannot figure out how to get it to work.

That would be really cool or even if someone just can give an answer who knows what to do to get the games work again😅

[TheRosswise]

So Chris how does RHEL going closed source affect Fedora, if anything?

[pluto]

I use flatpaks for everything except vscode and browsers. Vscode browser debugger doesn't work when it's installed as a flatpak.

[sebastianibanez]

You mind reader, I was just asking myself this after watching your perfect system video

[hugomartinezf]

how about a Flatpak vs DistroBox video?