Flathub Vying to Become the Standard Linux App Store
If the Flathub team has any say in the matter, their product will become the default tool for installing Linux apps in 2023.
Linux has a plethora of package managers and app stores. There's apt, dnf, yum, zypper, pacman, GNOME Software, Discover, and Synaptic.
For modern Linux distributions, however, you can also add Snap and Flatpak into the mix. Those last two have, for some time, struggled to gain much traction. However, over the past couple of years, those universal package managers have finally gained considerable popularity.
But only one of those tools is vying to become the de facto standard app store for Linux.
Flatpak has secured $100k in funding and is aiming for $150k more. Their goal is to prepare for higher operating costs and to bring in another full-time staffer.
This comes on the heels of Canonical announcing all official Ubuntu spin-offs would no longer ship with Flatpak installed by default.
Recently, Robert McQueen (Endless CEO and president of the GNOME board), penned a blog to not only state how strong the Flatpak growth is (with more than 700,000 app downloads a day) but to state that they plan on establishing an independent legal entity to own and operate Flathub (which is currently hosted by GNOME).
McQueen says in his blog, "Flatpak has, in my opinion, solved the largest technical issue which has held back the mainstream growth and acceptance of Linux on the desktop … namely, the difficulty for app developers to publish their work in a way that makes it easy for people to discover, download (or sideload, for people in challenging connectivity environments), install and use." He adds, "Flathub builds on that to help users discover the work of app developers and helps that work reach users in a timely manner."
As far as what the future holds, the plan is to launch a new Flathub web experience, add verification features, turn on Flatpak repo subsets to enable users to select only verified and/or FLOS apps, enable direct app uploads as well as donations and payments, and create Flatpak focus groups and an advisory board.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
So Long Neofetch and Thanks for the Info
Today is a day that every Linux user who enjoys bragging about their system(s) will mourn, as Neofetch has come to an end.
-
Ubuntu 24.04 Comes with a “Flaw"
If you're thinking you might want to upgrade from your current Ubuntu release to the latest, there's something you might want to consider before doing so.
-
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 24.04
After a brief pause because of the XZ vulnerability, Ubuntu 24.04 is now available for install.
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.
-
Linux Usage Increases in Two Key Areas
If market share is your thing, you'll be happy to know that Linux is on the rise in two areas that, if they keep climbing, could have serious meaning for Linux's future.
-
Vulnerability Discovered in xz Libraries
An urgent alert for Fedora 40 has been posted and users should pay attention.