Linux App Store: A Centralized Hub for Flatpak, Snap, and AppImage Apps | Hacker News Reader

Linux App Store: A Centralized Hub for Flatpak, Snap, and AppImage Apps

linuxappstore.io

15 pointscommoner7 comments

OMG! Ubuntu!'s write-up:

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2019/05/the-linux-app-store-webs...

Source code (GPLv3):

https://github.com/linuxappstore/linuxappstore-frontend

I'm just a casual Linux user, but I'm wondering: is there a demand for this? I've been using Linux Mint and it already comes with a pseudo store. Everything else that I've been installing was one apt-get command away. Is this meant to make Linux more accessible to people who don't currently use it?

These new software packaging systems (Flatpak, Snap, and AppImage) offer several benefits:

- All dependencies bundled in one package, which eliminates dependency hell

- Delta updates for smaller and faster application updates

- Software developers can support all Linux distributions with one release, instead of repackaging their software multiple times

- Application sandboxing for additional security (only for Flatpak, Snap with AppArmor, and AppImage with Firejail)

- The entire application is contained in one file (only for AppImage)

The various app stores (Ubuntu Software Center, GNOME Software, and KDE Discover) already support either Flatpak or Snap, which would make Linux software more accessible to users who prefer a graphical interface for software management.

Only downside I see is that you end up with many repeat dependencies, which takes up more space than the alternative. Still pretty great for a personal Linux machine more easily maintained by the user, but not so great for other machines with more limited resources.

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the clarification.

I was not able to find any mention about integrity. Is there any document explaining how/when/... all packages and "deltas" are sealed? Thank you!

Flatpak: http://docs.flatpak.org/en/latest/basic-concepts.html and http://docs.flatpak.org/en/latest/under-the-hood.html

Snap: https://docs.snapcraft.io/snap-format and https://docs.snapcraft.io/snap-confinement

AppImage: https://github.com/AppImage/AppImageSpec/blob/master/draft.m...

If you're looking for something else, please say so and I'll try to find the right information.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com