Package administration is among the vital options of any Linux distro that eases the strategy of Linux apps set up and upkeep. Completely different Linux distros comply with completely different strategies to bundle and distribute software program.
However the identical characteristic generally turns into a stumbling block for some individuals switching to completely different Linux distributions. They discover it laborious to know the brand new bundle supervisor and fail to put in the purposes. To resolve such points with a number of bundle managers, Linux distro has advanced to provide common bundle administration methods resembling Snap, Appimage, and Flatpak.
These days, if you wish to obtain any software, it’s essential to’ve come throughout the phrases ‘Flatpak’ or ‘Flathub’. So, did you additionally discover it complicated for the primary time? If sure, this text is precisely so that you can perceive Flatpak with the essential utilization of putting in and uninstalling Flatpak apps.
After following this newbie’s information, you’ll study in regards to the following issues:
- What’s Flatpak and Flathub
- Enabling or putting in Flatpak on Ubuntu, Pop!_OS, Linux Mint, and different Linux distro
- Putting in Flatpak apps utilizing GNOME software program
- Set up Flatpak apps from terminal
- Set up Flatpak apps from .flatpakref file
- Utilizing different Flatpak instructions
- Uninstall Flatpak apps
What Is Flatpak?
Flatpak is a common bundle administration system to construct and distribute purposes on any Linux distros. You don’t have to study distro-specific bundle managers to put in the Flatpak app. It gives a single command-line utility for all Linux distros to obtain, set up and replace the app.
Flatpak app is available in bundled with all dependent libraries contained in the app. Therefore, you additionally don’t want to put in any dependencies externally in your Linux desktop. Right here I’m itemizing key distinctive options of Flatpak that give a number of causes to make use of it.
Options of Flatpak:
- Sandboxing setting for working apps
- Help for twenty-four Linux distros
- Operating a number of model of the identical app on the identical time
- No dependency incompatibilities
- Automated software replace within the background
What Is Flathub?
Flathub is a centralized flatpak software repository that provides tons of apps and video games for the Linux system. It additionally gives a constructing service for builders who need to construct, distribute, and supply common updates to apps.
You can too combine Flathub along with your software program heart from the place you browse and set up Flatpak purposes utilizing a graphical interface. When you reside in your terminal, you need to use the command line Flatpak utility to browse and set up apps from Flathub repo.
So, let’s soar into step one by organising Flatpak on the Ubuntu and different Linux distros.
How To Allow Flatpak Help?
When you’re utilizing Fedora, Infinite OS, Linux Mint, CentOS, elementary OS, you’ll be able to skip this step as you don’t want to put in Flatpak. The latest model of those Linux distros comes with a pre-installed and default Flatpak help.
Now to allow Flatpak on different Linux distributions, we simply should run a single command that can set up Flatpak and autoconfigure with the Linux system.
Set up Flatpak on Debian, Pop!_OS, Ubuntu and its derivatives
sudo apt set up flatpak
Set up Flatpak on the older model of Ubuntu earlier than 18.10
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:alexlarsson/flatpak
sudo apt replace
sudo apt set up flatpak
Set up Flatpak on Pink Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
sudo yum set up flatpak
Set up Flatpak on Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S flatpak
Set up Flatpak on OpenSUSE
sudo zypper set up flatpak
Set up Flatpak on Solus
sudo eopkg set up flatpak xdg-desktop-portal-gtk
For all different Linux distributions, you’ll be able to examine here.
When you end putting in Flatpak, restart your system and we’re able to hop on the subsequent step of putting in Flatpak purposes. However earlier than we go forward, let me inform you that beneath I’ll talk about three strategies to obtain and set up Flatpak apps from Flathub repo.
- Putting in Flatpak apps utilizing GNOME software program heart
- Putting in Flatpak apps utilizing .flatpakref file
- Putting in Flatpak app utilizing command line
So, you’re all free to make use of any of the three strategies in accordance with your personal state of affairs, want, and luxury stage. Right here, I additionally need to point out that I’m utilizing Ubuntu 20.04 Linux to show the Flatpak app set up.
How To Set up Flatpak Apps Utilizing Graphical GNOME Software program Heart?
1. Set up Flatpak Plugin
The graphical technique is the simplest option to set up Flaptak apps for all those that are afraid of the terminal. To make use of the default software program heart, you first have to allow Flatpak help.
Therefore, for those who’re utilizing the GNOME desktop setting, set up the Flatpak plugin by working the command:
sudo apt set up gnome-software-plugin-flatpak
For KDE desktop, run the command:
sudo apt set up plasma-discover-backend-flatpak
2. Search For App With Supply Label To Flathub
Now simply seek for the app in your default software program heart, and also you’ll discover a label with a supply pointing to Flathub repository.
Click on on “Set up” and now you can have a Flatpak app put in in your system.
How To Set up Flatpak Apps Utilizing .flatpakref (Flatpak) file?
1. Search For App On the On-line Flathub Platform
Go to the web Flathub app store and seek for your required app.
2. Obtain The .flatpakref Flatpak file
Click on on “Set up” and it’ll obtain torrent like flatpak file .flatpakref which we’ll use within the subsequent step to put in the app.
3. Set up Flatpak App From .flatpakref file
Now, run the next command to put in the app utilizing the .flatpakref file.
flatpak set up --from /path/to/<app-id>.flatpakref
When you end putting in the app, you’ll be able to both search in your system or run the next command to open the app:
flatpak run <app-id>
How To Set up Flatpak Apps Utilizing Command-Line?
1. Set up Flathub Repository
To put in a Flatpak app from the terminal, we first want to put in Flathub repository in order that we will seek for the app after which set up it.
So, run the command so as to add Flathub containing the complete listing of Flatpak app:
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
2. Search Flatpak App From Terminal
We are able to now seek for any utilizing a single command:
flatpak search <app-name>
It should listing all apps associated to the app-name
key phrase you entered.
3. Set up Flatpak App Utilizing App ID
Spot the app you need to set up, copy its software ID, and move it as enter to the next command to put in the app:
flatpak set up flathub <app-id>
Now run the appliance utilizing the command:
flatpak run <app-id>
Utilizing Different Flatpak instructions
If you wish to do extra with flatpak, you’ll be able to examine all its instructions obtainable by studying the handbook web page:
man flatpak
As you’ll be able to see, there are a number of instructions for managing the put in purposes. Considered one of them is the flatpak listing
that shows all put in Flaptak apps in your system.
flatpak listing
To replace the particular app, you’ll be able to run:
flatpak replace <app-id>
How To Uninstall Flatpak Apps?
Lastly, if you wish to take away Flatpak apps, you are able to do the identical utilizing each graphical and command-line strategies.
When you’re utilizing a command line, simply run flatpak listing
and seize app-id
. Then, run the command to uninstall app:
flatpak uninstall <app-id>
Utilizing a graphical technique, you’ll be able to seek for your put in app in your respective software program heart after which simply click on on take away or uninstall.
Conclusion
I hope you loved the newbie’s information and realized in regards to the Flatpak bundle administration system. Be happy to specific your opinion or ask any doubt within the feedback part beneath.