Agreed. The shift from downloading installers to finding stuff in the app store is a pretty big jump, and a necessary one IMO because it prevents the main source of malware (downloading sketchy exes) and ensures that everything stays up-to-date. When it comes from the distro package repository, you can be reasonably sure that it’s legit.
And yeah, flatpaks rock.
Linux is a paradigm shift, and I think it’s generally for the better.
The distro I use (Pop_os) has a lot of outdated packages in the ‘store’, & I think that’s pretty common for any distro that’s not bleeding edge.
The store compensates with flatpaks a lot of the times, but my issue with those is they don’t integrate with the system very well. To launch Krita (for a random example), instead of using ‘krita’ in the command line, I need to use like, ‘~/.local/var/org.kritafoundation.krita.flatpak’ (I am making that up, but it’s probably something similar). This becomes a real issue when using scripts or needing software to work system wide.
Appimages are actually my current favorite method for universal install. I rename them, then stuff them in my ~/bin/ directory. My gripe with appimages is there is no auto generated .desktop file.
I like building from source, but sometimes it feels like I install 10 gigs of dependencies to build a 400kb piece of software.
Adding repos was invented by the Devil & is thus appropriately cursed to break systems, so I stay away unless there’s really no other options.
I guess what I’m saying is every single method sucks, but still better than Windows lol.
Honestly, an up-to-date store would be the best of all Worlds, which I suppose is Arch’s AUR, but, nah. Arch looks like a headache.
Anyways, I’m blabbing. That happens when I start geeking out about Linux.
instead of using ‘krita’ in the command line, I need to use like, ‘~/.local/var/org.kritafoundation.krita.flatpak’
Does your DE not find it for you? Both GNOME and KDE seem to find my flatpaks, so I just launch them from there.
Ideally you don’t launch GUI apps from scripts, and you don’t install CLI apps via flatpak. So the handful of times you do want to launch a GUI app from a script, I think it’s reasonable for there to be a little bit of annoyance.
You can make an alias if it really bothers you.
Appimages are actually my current favorite method for universal install. I rename them, then stuff them in my ~/bin/ directory. My gripe with appimages is there is no auto generated .desktop file.
That, and nothing autos updates them, not to mention the compete lack of a sandbox, so it can do anything your user account can do.
Adding repos was invented by the Devil
Yup, the only exceptions are “official” repos. Projects like Debian and Fedora don’t ship nonfree software, so the “official” extra repos are essential for things like nvidia drivers.
Arch’s AUR
If you don’t like extra repos, you shouldn’t like the AUR, since that’s essentially the same idea. You’re basically running arbitrary code on your machine.
I’m using Cosmic, which apes Gnome but is not Gnome. I’m being a total purist though & keeping as much KDE & Gnome out of the DE as possible.
That said, Cosmic has no problem updating the menu when Flatpaks are installed. I also don’t tend to run software from a script just for funsies, it’s usually to do with an automated process. Another issue is sometimes, a script will call on a hook for software, like a browser for example, & flatpaks can cause problems with the scripts locating or sharing data with the scripts due to the nature of the sandboxing.
I still have plenty of flatpaks installed because they are pretty good, even with (what I consider) flaws. Imo flatpaks are kind of like Docker in that they’re great & everything, but also kind of a pain in the ass.
As far as appimages, I guess it doesn’t bother me to update manually once in awhile and, as I just explained, I actually usually want software to have access to everything. I installed Ghostty via appimage, for example, & I use it all the time, but it’s not critical that it gets updates, so I just check manually on occasion.
Anyways, I 100% agree with you on the rest. I’ve never considered the AUR as a giant repo but yeah, that’s a good way to think of it.
Agreed. The shift from downloading installers to finding stuff in the app store is a pretty big jump, and a necessary one IMO because it prevents the main source of malware (downloading sketchy exes) and ensures that everything stays up-to-date. When it comes from the distro package repository, you can be reasonably sure that it’s legit.
And yeah, flatpaks rock.
Linux is a paradigm shift, and I think it’s generally for the better.
The distro I use (Pop_os) has a lot of outdated packages in the ‘store’, & I think that’s pretty common for any distro that’s not bleeding edge.
The store compensates with flatpaks a lot of the times, but my issue with those is they don’t integrate with the system very well. To launch Krita (for a random example), instead of using ‘krita’ in the command line, I need to use like, ‘~/.local/var/org.kritafoundation.krita.flatpak’ (I am making that up, but it’s probably something similar). This becomes a real issue when using scripts or needing software to work system wide.
Appimages are actually my current favorite method for universal install. I rename them, then stuff them in my ~/bin/ directory. My gripe with appimages is there is no auto generated .desktop file.
I like building from source, but sometimes it feels like I install 10 gigs of dependencies to build a 400kb piece of software.
Adding repos was invented by the Devil & is thus appropriately cursed to break systems, so I stay away unless there’s really no other options.
I guess what I’m saying is every single method sucks, but still better than Windows lol.
Honestly, an up-to-date store would be the best of all Worlds, which I suppose is Arch’s AUR, but, nah. Arch looks like a headache.
Anyways, I’m blabbing. That happens when I start geeking out about Linux.
Does your DE not find it for you? Both GNOME and KDE seem to find my flatpaks, so I just launch them from there.
Ideally you don’t launch GUI apps from scripts, and you don’t install CLI apps via flatpak. So the handful of times you do want to launch a GUI app from a script, I think it’s reasonable for there to be a little bit of annoyance.
You can make an alias if it really bothers you.
That, and nothing autos updates them, not to mention the compete lack of a sandbox, so it can do anything your user account can do.
Yup, the only exceptions are “official” repos. Projects like Debian and Fedora don’t ship nonfree software, so the “official” extra repos are essential for things like nvidia drivers.
If you don’t like extra repos, you shouldn’t like the AUR, since that’s essentially the same idea. You’re basically running arbitrary code on your machine.
The AUR can be great, just be careful.
I’m using Cosmic, which apes Gnome but is not Gnome. I’m being a total purist though & keeping as much KDE & Gnome out of the DE as possible.
That said, Cosmic has no problem updating the menu when Flatpaks are installed. I also don’t tend to run software from a script just for funsies, it’s usually to do with an automated process. Another issue is sometimes, a script will call on a hook for software, like a browser for example, & flatpaks can cause problems with the scripts locating or sharing data with the scripts due to the nature of the sandboxing.
I still have plenty of flatpaks installed because they are pretty good, even with (what I consider) flaws. Imo flatpaks are kind of like Docker in that they’re great & everything, but also kind of a pain in the ass.
As far as appimages, I guess it doesn’t bother me to update manually once in awhile and, as I just explained, I actually usually want software to have access to everything. I installed Ghostty via appimage, for example, & I use it all the time, but it’s not critical that it gets updates, so I just check manually on occasion.
Anyways, I 100% agree with you on the rest. I’ve never considered the AUR as a giant repo but yeah, that’s a good way to think of it.