Beyond APT: Software Management with Flatpak on Ubuntu

George Whittaker — Thu, 08 May 2025 16:00:00 +0000

Ubuntu has long relied on APT and DEB packages for software management, with Snap becoming increasingly prevalent in recent releases. However, a third contender has risen to prominence in the Linux world: Flatpak. Designed as a universal software packaging and distribution framework, Flatpak offers a fresh, sandboxed approach to application management that works seamlessly across distributions. In this article, we’ll dive into how to manage software with Flatpak on Ubuntu, providing everything you need to get started, optimize your workflow, and compare it with existing solutions.

What is Flatpak?

Flatpak is a modern application packaging system developed by the Free Desktop Project. Its goal is to enable the distribution of desktop applications in a sandboxed environment, ensuring greater security, consistency, and compatibility across Linux distributions.

Key Benefits of Flatpak

Cross-distribution compatibility: A single Flatpak package works on any Linux distribution with Flatpak support.
Sandboxing: Applications run in isolation, reducing the risk of affecting or being affected by other software or the host system.
Bundle dependencies: Flatpak packages include all necessary dependencies, reducing compatibility issues.
Version control: Developers can ship and maintain multiple versions easily.

Limitations

Storage overhead: Applications may use more disk space due to bundled runtimes.
Redundancy: Ubuntu users already have Snap, which can lead to confusion or duplication.

Installing Flatpak on Ubuntu

Although Flatpak isn't pre-installed on Ubuntu, setting it up is straightforward.

Step 1: Install Flatpak

Open a terminal and run:

sudo apt update sudo apt install flatpak

Step 2: Install GNOME Software Plugin (Optional)

To integrate Flatpak apps into the Ubuntu Software GUI:

sudo apt install gnome-software-plugin-flatpak

This step allows Flatpak apps to appear alongside APT and Snap apps in GNOME Software.

Step 3: Reboot or Log Out

Restart your session to apply system changes and enable Flatpak integration fully.

Adding the Flathub Repository

Most Flatpak applications are hosted on Flathub, the central repository for Flatpak packages.

To add Flathub:

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The Future of Linux Software: Will Flatpak and Snap Replace Native Desktop Apps?

George Whittaker — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 16:00:00 +0000

by George Whittaker

For decades, Linux distributions have relied on native packaging formats like DEB and RPM to distribute software. These formats are deeply integrated into the Linux ecosystem, tied closely to the distribution's package manager and system architecture. But over the last few years, two newer technologies—Flatpak and Snap—have emerged, promising a universal packaging model that could revolutionize Linux app distribution.

But are Flatpak and Snap destined to replace native Linux apps entirely? Or are they better seen as complementary solutions addressing long-standing pain points? In this article, we'll explore the origins, benefits, criticisms, adoption trends, and the future of these packaging formats in the Linux world.

Understanding the Packaging Landscape

What Are Native Packages?

Traditional Linux software is packaged using system-specific formats. For example:

.deb for Debian-based systems like Ubuntu and Linux Mint
.rpm for Red Hat-based systems like Fedora and CentOS

These packages are managed by package managers like apt, dnf, or pacman, depending on the distro. They're tightly integrated with the underlying operating system, often relying on a complex set of shared libraries and system-specific dependencies.

Pros of Native Packaging:

Smaller package sizes due to shared libraries
High performance and tight integration
Established infrastructure and tooling

Cons of Native Packaging:

Dependency hell: broken packages due to missing or incompatible libraries
Difficulty in distributing the same app across multiple distros
Developers must package and test separately for each distro

What Are Flatpak and Snap?

Both Flatpak and Snap aim to solve the distribution problem by allowing developers to package applications once and run them on any major Linux distribution.

Flatpak

Developed by the GNOME Foundation
Focus on sandboxing and user privacy
Applications are installed in user space (no root needed)
Uses Flathub as the main app repository

Flatpak applications include their own runtime, ensuring that they work consistently across different systems regardless of the host OS's libraries.

Snap

Developed and maintained by Canonical, the makers of Ubuntu
Focus on universal packaging and transactional updates