Software management - Revision history

Prabuanand: made changes to various sections to improve the readability. added wikitags like Todo and Tips

2026-03-14T10:14:22Z

made changes to various sections to improve the readability. added wikitags like Todo and Tips

John3-16: Flatpaks prioritized over AppImages: subsection order restored further to testing – see Talk:Software_management#AppImage.

2026-01-26T07:35:24Z

Flatpaks prioritized over AppImages: subsection order restored further to testing – see Talk:Software_management#AppImage.

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:35, 26 January 2026
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	[[KDE#Discover\|KDE Discover]] can be used as a GUI front end for apk to manage official software packages and flatpaks.		[[KDE#Discover\|KDE Discover]] can be used as a GUI front end for apk to manage official software packages and flatpaks.

			== Flatpak ==
			{{Main\|Flatpak}}

			[[Flatpak#Installing_Flatpak\|Flatpaks]] are by far the easiest method for running programs that are not available in the official Alpine Linux [[Repositories\|repositories]]. To use flatpaks, ensure that the [[Flatpak#Installing_Flatpak\|Flathub repository]] is enabled.

	== AppImage ==		== AppImage ==
	{{Main\|AppImage}}		{{Main\|AppImage}}
	~~{{Accuracy\|Many AppImages does not work compared to Flatpaks.\|section=AppImage}}~~
	AppImages are by far the easiest method for running programs that are not available in the official Alpine Linux [[Repositories\|repositories]]. Refer to the [[AppImage]] page for prerequisites and for detailed instructions to run them in Alpine Linux.

	~~== Flatpak ==~~
	~~{{Main\|Flatpak}}~~

	[[~~Flatpak#Installing_Flatpak~~\|~~Flatpak~~]] ~~is an~~ alternative to [[~~AppImage~~\|~~AppImages~~]] for running programs that are not available in the official Alpine Linux [[Repositories\|repositories]]. To use ~~flatpaks, ensure that~~ the [[~~Flatpak#Installing_Flatpak\|Flathub repository~~]] ~~is enabled~~.		[[AppImage\|AppImages]] are another alternative to [[Flatpak\|flatpaks]] for running programs that are not available in the official Alpine Linux [[Repositories\|repositories]]. However, not as many AppImages work on Alpine Linux as compared to Flatpaks, since AppImages are more commonly built for glibc operating systems, as opposed to Alpine Linux's use of musl.
			Refer to the [[AppImage]] page for prerequisites and for detailed instructions to run AppImages in Alpine Linux.

	== Coldbrew ==		== Coldbrew ==

Prabuanand: added Accuracy template

2026-01-25T13:49:18Z

added Accuracy template

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:49, 25 January 2026
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	== AppImage ==		== AppImage ==
	{{Main\|AppImage}}		{{Main\|AppImage}}
			{{Accuracy\|Many AppImages does not work compared to Flatpaks.\|section=AppImage}}
	AppImages are by far the easiest method for running programs that are not available in the official Alpine Linux [[Repositories\|repositories]]. Refer to the [[AppImage]] page for prerequisites and for detailed instructions to run them in Alpine Linux.		AppImages are by far the easiest method for running programs that are not available in the official Alpine Linux [[Repositories\|repositories]]. Refer to the [[AppImage]] page for prerequisites and for detailed instructions to run them in Alpine Linux.

John3-16: /* Coldbrew */ Amended "$ coldbrew list" as "$ coldbrew ls"

2026-01-09T20:07:05Z

Coldbrew: Amended "$ coldbrew list" as "$ coldbrew ls"

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:07, 9 January 2026
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	{{Cmd\|$ coldbrew remove corepad}}		{{Cmd\|$ coldbrew remove corepad}}

	All installed tools can be listed through the {{ic\|$ coldbrew ~~list~~}} command.		All installed tools can be listed through the {{ic\|$ coldbrew ls}} command.

	== Running glibc programs ==		== Running glibc programs ==

John3-16: Added Coldbrew section

2026-01-09T20:04:02Z

Added Coldbrew section

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:04, 9 January 2026
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	[[Flatpak#Installing_Flatpak\|Flatpak]] is an alternative to [[AppImage\|AppImages]] for running programs that are not available in the official Alpine Linux [[Repositories\|repositories]]. To use flatpaks, ensure that the [[Flatpak#Installing_Flatpak\|Flathub repository]] is enabled.		[[Flatpak#Installing_Flatpak\|Flatpak]] is an alternative to [[AppImage\|AppImages]] for running programs that are not available in the official Alpine Linux [[Repositories\|repositories]]. To use flatpaks, ensure that the [[Flatpak#Installing_Flatpak\|Flathub repository]] is enabled.

			== Coldbrew ==

			'''Coldbrew''' is a package manager that can install Alpine Linux aports Edge packages without needing root access, somewhat similar to '''brew'''. This is particularly useful on immutable operating systems such as with [https://postmarketos.org/blog/2025/10/12/pmOS-update-2025-09/#immutable-postmarketos PostmarketOS's duranium image]. '''Coldbrew''' is available in Alpine Linux Edge testing repository as of January 2026; the testing repository is [[Repositories#Using_testing_repository\|recommended to be tagged]] if installing '''coldbrew''' on any supported Alpine Linux release.

			'''Coldbrew''' replaces the [https://github.com/kcxt/iced '''iced'''] package on Alpine Linux, which used the {{Pkg\|mkosi-sandbox}}; packages run inside a chroot using '''bubblewrap''' instead. They have access to the home directory, but have only controlled access to all other files through explicit bind mounts. Packages installed using '''coldbrew''' are referred to as tools. See [https://gitlab.postmarketos.org/postmarketOS/coldbrew further details upstream].

			To install '''coldbrew''':
			{{Cmd\|$ doas apk add coldbrew@testing}}

			To install a tool to be run by '''coldbrew''', say, {{Pkg\|corepad}}:
			{{Cmd\|$ coldbrew install corepad}}

			Note that even though the output ends...

			Installed binary /usr/bin/corepad

			...the path being referred to exists within a new mount namespace using bind mounts in the '''bubblewrap''' sandbox.

			A wrapper program is installed to {{Path\|~/.local/bin}} on Alpine Linux.

			To run the tool under '''coldbrew''':
			{{Cmd\|$ coldbrew run corepad}}

			To remove the tool:
			{{Cmd\|$ coldbrew remove corepad}}

			All installed tools can be listed through the {{ic\|$ coldbrew list}} command.

	== Running glibc programs ==		== Running glibc programs ==

John3-16: 1. /* Bubblewrap + Chroot */ Enhanced cli illustration for Electron packages; 2. Style/grammar amendments

2025-12-28T16:33:39Z

1. Bubblewrap + Chroot: Enhanced cli illustration for Electron packages; 2. Style/grammar amendments

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:33, 28 December 2025
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	This page documents various ways to [[#Running glibc programs\|run software compiled with glibc]] and manage software using [[#Graphical software manager\|graphical software managers]] in Alpine Linux. There are pages ~~for~~ compiling [[Compile software from source\|software from source]] and [[Custom Kernel\|custom kernel]].		This page documents various ways to [[#Running glibc programs\|run software compiled with glibc]] and to manage software using [[#Graphical software manager\|graphical software managers]] in Alpine Linux. There are pages elsewhere regarding compiling [[Compile software from source\|software from source]] and for creating a [[Custom Kernel\|custom kernel]].

	== Alpine package keeper ==		== Alpine package keeper ==
	{{Main\|Alpine Package Keeper}}		{{Main\|Alpine Package Keeper}}
	The official package manager in Alpine Linux [[Alpine Package Keeper\|Alpine Package Keeper(apk)]] is a ''cli'' tool. [[Comparison_with_other_distros#Comparison_chart/Rosetta_Stone\|Rosetta stone]] shows how standard package management tasks are done in Alpine Linux compared to other popular distributions.		The official package manager in Alpine Linux, [[Alpine Package Keeper\|Alpine Package Keeper(apk)]], is a ''cli'' tool. [[Comparison_with_other_distros#Comparison_chart/Rosetta_Stone\|Rosetta stone]] shows how standard package management tasks are done in Alpine Linux compared to other popular distributions.

	== Graphical software manager ==		== Graphical software manager ==
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	{{cmd\|$ glibc ./binary}} or {{cmd\|$ glibcX11 ./binary}}		{{cmd\|$ glibc ./binary}} or {{cmd\|$ glibcX11 ./binary}}

	When a [[Wayland]] desktop such as [[Sway]] runs without ~~{{pkg\|xwayland}}~~ on the Alpine Linux host, ~~then electron~~ apps~~, such as~~ {{ic\|~~vscode~~}}, {{ic\|~~google~~-~~chrome~~}}, etc~~., need to be started as follows~~:		When a [[Wayland]] desktop such as [[Sway]] runs without XWayland on the Alpine Linux host, Electron apps need to be started with Ozone Wayland support:
	{{cmd\|<nowiki>$ glibc ~~code~~ --ozone-platform=wayland</nowiki>}}
			* For VS Code (note the use of the {{ic\|code}} command):
			{{cmd\|<nowiki>glibc code --enable-features=UseOzonePlatform --ozone-platform=wayland</nowiki>}}

			* For Google Chrome, etc:
			{{cmd\|<nowiki>glibc google-chrome --enable-features=UseOzonePlatform --ozone-platform=wayland</nowiki>}}

			The flags enforce Wayland rendering, thus avoiding XWayland and improving display, particularly if fractional scaling is also used.

	== See also ==		== See also ==

John3-16: 1.Changed "Flatpak is by far the easiest method for running programs not available" to "Appimages are by far the easiest method [...]":AppImage has since been made available and does not require repo setup/configuration; 2.Similarly, changed "AppImage is another alternative to Flatpak" to "Flatpak is another alternative [...]"; 3.Inverted order of those sections; 4.Replaced root prompts with '$ doas' where possible; 5.Clarified re bwrap: glibc & glib are shell aliases; 6.Style/grammar amendments

2025-12-27T07:48:30Z

1.Changed "Flatpak is by far the easiest method for running programs not available" to "Appimages are by far the easiest method [...]":AppImage has since been made available and does not require repo setup/configuration; 2.Similarly, changed "AppImage is another alternative to Flatpak" to "Flatpak is another alternative [...]"; 3.Inverted order of those sections; 4.Replaced root prompts with '$ doas' where possible; 5.Clarified re bwrap: glibc & glib are shell aliases; 6.Style/grammar amendments

Show changes

Prabuanand: added wikilinks

2025-12-09T04:42:42Z

added wikilinks

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:42, 9 December 2025
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	This page documents various ways to [[#Running glibc programs\|run software compiled with glibc]] and manage software using [[#Graphical software manager\|graphical software managers]] in Alpine Linux.		This page documents various ways to [[#Running glibc programs\|run software compiled with glibc]] and manage software using [[#Graphical software manager\|graphical software managers]] in Alpine Linux. There are pages for compiling [[Compile software from source\|software from source]] and [[Custom Kernel\|custom kernel]].

	== Alpine package keeper ==		== Alpine package keeper ==
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	* [[Installing ArchLinux inside an Alpine chroot]]		* [[Installing ArchLinux inside an Alpine chroot]]
	* [[Compile software from source]]		* [[Compile software from source]]
			* [[Kernels]]

	[[Category:Package Manager]]		[[Category:Package Manager]] [[Category:Development]]
	[[Category:Development]]

Prabuanand: removed redundant stuff from introduction pagraph and moved to other section

2025-11-14T07:15:51Z

removed redundant stuff from introduction pagraph and moved to other section

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:15, 14 November 2025
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	This page documents various ways to [[#Running glibc programs\|run software compiled with glibc]] ~~like {{ic\|VSCode}}, {{ic\|google-chrome}}, {{ic\|obsidian}} etc~~ using ~~options like Flatpak, Appimage, chroot and containers in Alpine Linux.~~		This page documents various ways to [[#Running glibc programs\|run software compiled with glibc]] and manage software using [[#Graphical software manager\|graphical software managers]] in Alpine Linux.

	~~This page also lists the~~ [[#Graphical software manager\|graphical software managers]] ~~that are available to supplement [[#~~Alpine ~~Package Keeper\|the CLI based apk tool]] to manage official software packages along with [[#Flatpak\|Flatpaks]]~~.

	== Alpine package keeper ==		== Alpine package keeper ==
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	== Graphical software manager ==		== Graphical software manager ==

	The following graphical tools are available to manage software packages from [[Repositories\|~~official~~ repositories]] and [[#Flatpak\|Flatpaks]].		The following graphical tools are available to manage official software packages from Alpine linux [[Repositories\|repositories]] and [[#Flatpak\|Flatpaks]] instead of using the [[#Alpine Package Keeper\|CLI based apk tool]].

	=== Gnome software ===		=== Gnome software ===
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	If you want to run [https://www.gnu.org/software/libc/ glibc] programs in Alpine Linux, there are a few ways of doing so.		If you want to run [https://www.gnu.org/software/libc/ glibc] programs in Alpine Linux, there are a few ways of doing so.

	For simpler binaries, you can install [[#gcompat\|gcompat]] a compatibility layer or you could do it the easy way and use [[#Flatpak\|Flatpaks]]. See [[#Containers\|containers]] or [[#Chroot\|chroot]] section for ways to run glibc programs including graphical ones.		For simpler binaries, you can install [[#gcompat\|gcompat]] a compatibility layer or you could do it the easy way and use [[#Flatpak\|Flatpaks]] or [[#AppImage\|AppImages]]. See [[#Containers\|containers]] or [[#Chroot\|chroot]] section for ways to run glibc programs including graphical ones like {{ic\|VSCode}}, {{ic\|google-chrome}}, {{ic\|obsidian}} etc...

	=== gcompat ===		=== gcompat ===

Prabuanand: changed introduction pagraph and Appimage

2025-11-14T07:05:54Z

changed introduction pagraph and Appimage

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:05, 14 November 2025
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	This page documents various ways to ~~manage software in Alpine Linux.~~ [[#~~Graphical software manager~~\|~~Graphical~~ software ~~managers~~]] ~~are available to supplement [[#Alpine Package Keeper~~\|~~apk]] to manage official software packages along with [[#~~Flatpak~~\|Flatpaks]]~~.		This page documents various ways to [[#Running glibc programs\|run software compiled with glibc]] like {{ic\|VSCode}}, {{ic\|google-chrome}}, {{ic\|obsidian}} etc using options like Flatpak, Appimage, chroot and containers in Alpine Linux.

	This page also ~~documents ways~~ to [[#~~Running glibc programs~~\|~~run~~ software ~~compiled~~ with ~~glibc~~]] ~~including graphical programs like {{ic\|Visual Studio Code}}, {{ic\|google-chrome}}, {{ic\|obsidian}} etc..~~.		This page also lists the [[#Graphical software manager\|graphical software managers]] that are available to supplement [[#Alpine Package Keeper\|the CLI based apk tool]] to manage official software packages along with [[#Flatpak\|Flatpaks]].

	== Alpine package keeper ==		== Alpine package keeper ==
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	[[Flatpak#Installing_Flatpak\|Flatpak]] is by far the easiest method for running programs not available in the official Alpine Linux [[Repositories\|repositories]]. To use flatpaks, ensure that [[Flatpak#Installing_Flatpak\|Flathub repository]] is enabled.		[[Flatpak#Installing_Flatpak\|Flatpak]] is by far the easiest method for running programs not available in the official Alpine Linux [[Repositories\|repositories]]. To use flatpaks, ensure that [[Flatpak#Installing_Flatpak\|Flathub repository]] is enabled.

			== AppImage ==
			{{Main\|AppImage}}
			[[AppImage]] is another alternative to [[Flatpak]] for running programs not available in the official Alpine Linux [[Repositories\|repositories]]. Refer to the [[AppImage]] page for Prerequisites and detailed instructions to run AppImages in Alpine Linux.

	== Running glibc programs ==		== Running glibc programs ==
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	For an usage example, refer [[Firefox#DRM_content_using_Widevine_workaround\|Firefox]] page, where gcompat is used to run glibc compiled Widevine binary.		For an usage example, refer [[Firefox#DRM_content_using_Widevine_workaround\|Firefox]] page, where gcompat is used to run glibc compiled Widevine binary.

	~~==== AppImages ====~~
	~~{{Main\|AppImage}}~~
	~~Most AppImages require glibc to run, so you need gcompat and FUSE to run AppImages.~~

	== Chroot ==		== Chroot ==