Install Flatpak, Universal Installer for All Linux distros
What is Flatpak? What is the Function of Flatpak?
One of the problems with the GNU/Linux operating system to date is that the GNU/Linux operating system has several file types. package (packages) differ in some distributions, GNU/Linux does not have a single file type package a special standard installation that can run on all Linux distributions.
As we know, Linux has several different systems that are controlled by four major distros, then other distros that appear later are mostly based on these four distributions. The four major distributions are Arch, Debian, Gentoo and Red Hat. But what might be a big problem about package this is different between Debian and Redhat.
The issue of the GNU/Linux operating system has several package different may not be a problem for those of you who only use and follow a certain distro or a certain system.
But this could be a big problem for developer which develops applications for the GNU/Linux operating system. Due to releasing an application, the developer have to do the process bundle the application to several types of files package or different systems.
Before releasing version stable an application is usually a developer released several trial versions such as beta, alpha or development etc. Then after the release, the developer continue to maintain the application, and make improvements if there are still bugs found.
The work of conducting experiments,bundlefixing an application can be difficult for users developer because the work has to be done for several different systems on Linux.
Don’t be surprised if you sometimes find some applications that are only available for certain distributions, and then can’t be used on some other distributions.
So it would be better if all Linux distributions had a file package the same or universal for all Linux distributions, this can help make it easier for developers and also be good news for users who use or try different distros.
There are already a few project as an attempt to address this issue. Maybe you’ve heard of Snaps and Appimage. After that, also present project new a technology called Flatpak which is very interesting.
Flatpak or at the time of its development process also known as Xdg-app is a technology to do builds, distributes, installs, and runs an application on all distributions of the GNU/Linux operating system.
The application isbundle in a format called “.flatpak” that can be run on all Linux distributions that have the Flatpak application installed.
In addition, here are some of the advantages that Flatpak offers to GNU/Linux operating system users when using Flatpak:
1. Many applications are available for installation, now there are many popular applications on the Flatpak list such as Spotify, Skype, Telegram, LibreOffice and several others.
2. Users of the GNU/Linux operating system will get the latest version of an application faster by using Flatpak.
3. Users can safely perform updates application without having to do reboot using Flatpak.
4. Users can also install several different versions of the same application using Flatpak. For example, when the latest version of an app is out, but you’re not sure what to do updates to the latest version of the version you are currently using because maybe the latest version still has bugs. By using Flatpak you can install the latest version to just try it without having to delete the old version.
5. Flatpak also offers security in their application. Flatpak is safe because it has the ability to do sandboxing, With this technology, applications that are considered dangerous can be run separately from the main system and will only have limited access to resources on the device. With this, your system can avoid exploits and can block malicious applications (malicious).
Install Flatpak on Ubuntu 16.04 and 16.10
On Arch Linux distributions, Debian, Fedora, Mageia, OpenSUSE Tumbleweed, Flatpak are available on official repositories (packages) each distribution.
To install Flatpak on Ubuntu distro. Open Terminal by pressing combination keyboard / shortcuts CTRL + ALT + T or open Terminal via Ubuntu Dash.
Enter the following command in Terminal to add repository to install Flatpak:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:alexlarsson/flatpak
Then do update repository to update the application list with the following command:
sudo apt update
After process update repository finished. Install Flatpak by using the following command:
sudo apt install flatpak
Wait for the installation process to complete and work without error.
