Flatpak: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:22, 25 May 2025

Flatpak is a technology for building and distributing applications with the goal of having a universal package format for all Linux distributions.

Prerequisites

Enable community repository.
Enable D-Bus, specifically D-Bus session needs to be started separately for each user.
Enable Polkit.
Install xdg-desktop-portal package along with an implementation of xdg-desktop-portal, e.g. xdg-desktop-portal-gtk package.

Installation

Following instructions are based on official Flatpak guide with additional customisations.

Install Flatpak

Install flatpak package using the command:

# apk add flatpak

Install the flatpak plugin for software managers

Install the Flatpak plugin Software for either the GNOME Software (since v3.13) or KDE Discover (since v3.11), making it possible to install apps without needing the command line.

To install, for GNOME Software run:

# apk add gnome-software-plugin-flatpak

For KDE Discover run:

# apk add discover-backend-flatpak

Add the Flathub repository

Next you need to add a repository, for this guide we will use the recommended repository, Flathub.

$ flatpak remote-add --user --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Flatpak is now ready to use immediately, however flatpak desktop entries will not appear until you restart your desktop session by logging out and then logging back in.

Now all you have to do is install apps!

Flatpak usage

To get all of the available options to use with the flatpak command run: flatpak --help or flatpak -h

Search for flatpak apps

To search for applications run flatpak --user search <appplicationname>

Example:

~$ flatpak --user search chromium Name Description Application ID Version Branch Remotes Chromium Web Browser The web browser from Chromium project org.chromium.Chromium 96.0.4664.93 stable flathub Chromium B.S.U. Fast paced, arcade-style, top-scrolling space shooter net.sourceforge.chromium-bsu 0.9.16.1 stable flathub ungoogled-chromium A lightweight approach to removing Google web service dependency com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium 96.0.4664.45 stable flathub

Install flatpak apps

When installing a flatpak app, a number of questions regarding what permissions the app requires and what runtimes or other software it needs will be asked.

To install a package run flatpak --user install <applicationname>

~$ flatpak --user install com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium Looking for matches… com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium permissions: ipc network cups pulseaudio wayland x11 devices file access [1] dbus access [2] bus ownership [3] system dbus access [4] [1] /run/.heim_org.h5l.kcm-socket, home, xdg-run/pipewire-0 [2] org.freedesktop.FileManager1, org.freedesktop.Notifications, org.freedesktop.secrets, org.gnome.SessionManager [3] org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.chromium.* [4] org.freedesktop.Avahi, org.freedesktop.UPower ID Branch Op Remote Download 1. com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium.Codecs stable i flathub < 1.1 MB 2. com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium.Locale stable i flathub < 112.8 kB 3. com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium stable i flathub < 119.0 MB Proceed with these changes to the system installation? [Y/n]:

or if you don't know or don't want to type the exact package name:

~$ flatpak --user install chromium Looking for matches… Similar refs found for ‘chromium’ in remote ‘flathub’ (system): 1) app/net.sourceforge.chromium-bsu/x86_64/stable 2) runtime/com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium.Codecs/x86_64/stable 3) runtime/org.chromium.Chromium.Codecs/x86_64/stable 4) app/org.chromium.Chromium/x86_64/stable 5) app/com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium/x86_64/stable Which do you want to use (0 to abort)? [0-5]:

Remove flatpak apps

To remove a package run: flatpak --user remove <applicationname>

~$ flatpak --user remove com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium ID Branch Op 1. com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium stable r 2. com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium.Codecs stable r 3. com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium.Locale stable r Proceed with these changes to the system installation? [Y/n]:

or if you don't know or don't want to type the exact package name:

~$ flatpak --user remove chromium Similar installed refs found for ‘chromium’: 1) app/com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium/x86_64/stable (system) 2) runtime/com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium.Codecs/x86_64/stable (system) 3) All of the above Which do you want to use (0 to abort)? [0-3]:

Troubleshooting

This material is work-in-progress ...

More documentation and testing is needed, but everything currently here should be safe to follow.
(Last edited by Prabuanand on 25 May 2025.)

Permission errors

If you receive errors about permissions then you may need to add your user to the flatpak group.

Note: You need to log out and log back in or reboot for the group change(s) to take effect

Application launch errors

If the application is not starting try running it with

flatpak run the.application.name

on a terminal. If this yields an a dbus error starting with Failed to connect to session bus then you might solve this by adding

export $(dbus-launch)

in /etc/profile.

Fixing audio issues

Make sure that XDG_RUNTIME_DIR is properly configured and re-login if necessary.

When you launch a Flatpak you will need to start pulseaudio as well:

$ pulseaudio --start && flatpak run com.example.Example

Unable to upload files

If you are unable to upload files from the host, this maybe due to Flatpak sandbox and you may have to manually add the authorization.

This can be done with the following commands:

$ flatpak override ApplicationID --filesystem=/home/user/Downloads

Where ApplicationID is given by:

$ flatpak list

For example:

$ flatpak override org.signal.Signal --filesystem=/home/user/Downloads

Error while opening repository

There is a current issue where sometimes flatpak will try to read the system-wide repository even if your install is with --user. This will result in failure to launch a flatpak application with the terminal reading ""error: While opening repository /var/lib/flatpak/repo: opening repo: opendir(/var/lib/flatpak/repo): No such file or directory". An alpine user has posted more information, as well as a workaround, at https://github.com/flatpak/flatpak/issues/5488

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Draft|More documentation and testing is needed, but everything currently here should be safe to follow.}}
+[https://flatpak.org/ Flatpak] is a technology for building and distributing applications with the goal of having a universal package format for all Linux distributions.
-Flatpak is a technology for building and distributing applications with the goal of having a universal package format for all Linux distributons, it is similar to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snap_(software) Snap],
-== Setup / Installation ==
-=== Runtime dependencies ===
-* {{Pkg|dbus}}
-* {{Pkg|xdg-desktop-portal}}
-* an implementation of <code>xdg-desktop-portal</code>, e.g. {{Pkg|xdg-desktop-portal-gtk}}
-{{Note|If you are running a window manager from {{Path|.xinitrc}}, make sure you are running a <code>dbus</code> session explicitly, i.e.:
+== Prerequisites ==
-{{Cmd|# exec dbus-launch --exit-with-session your_favourite_wm}}}}
+* [[Repositories#Managing_repositories|Enable]] community repository.
+* Enable [[D-Bus]], specifically [[D-Bus#D-Bus session|D-Bus session]] needs to be started separately for each user.
+* Enable [[Polkit]].
+* Install {{Pkg|xdg-desktop-portal}} package along with an implementation of {{ic|xdg-desktop-portal}}, e.g. {{Pkg|xdg-desktop-portal-gtk}} package.
-=== Installing Flatpak Itself ===
+== Installation ==
-''From: https://flatpak.org/setup/Alpine/''
+Following instructions are based on [https://flathub.org/setup/Alpine official Flatpak guide] with additional customisations.
-{{Note|To install Flatpak you will need to enable the  Community repository, See: [[Repositories#Managing_repositories|Repositories - Managing repositories]]}}
+=== Install Flatpak ===
-To install Flatpak run:
+Install {{Pkg|flatpak}} package using the command: {{cmd|# apk add {{Pkg|flatpak}}}}
-{{cmd|# apk add {{Pkg|flatpak}}}}
+=== Install the flatpak plugin for software managers ===
-Next you need to add a repository, for this guide we will use the recommended repository, [https://flathub.org Flathub].
+Install the Flatpak plugin Software for either the GNOME Software (since v3.13) or KDE Discover (since v3.11), making it possible to install apps without needing the command line.
+:To install, for GNOME Software run:{{cmd|# apk add gnome-software-plugin-flatpak}}
+:For KDE Discover run:{{cmd|# apk add discover-backend-flatpak}}
-{{cmd|$ flatpak remote-add --user --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo}}
+=== Add the Flathub repository ===
-Now reboot to complete setup
+Next you need to add a repository, for this guide we will use the recommended repository, [https://flathub.org Flathub]. {{cmd|$ flatpak remote-add --user --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo}}
-{{Note|graphical installation of Flatpak apps may not be possible with Alpine.}}
+Flatpak is now ready to use immediately, however flatpak desktop entries will not appear until you restart your desktop session by logging out and then logging back in.
-== Usage ==
+Now all you have to do is install apps!
-To get all of the available options to use with the '''flatpak''' command run: '''flatpak --help''' or '''flatpak -h''',
+== Flatpak usage ==
+To get all of the available options to use with the '''flatpak''' command run: '''flatpak --help''' or '''flatpak -h'''
-=== Search ===
+=== Search for flatpak apps ===
-To search for applications run '''flatpak search <appplicationname>'''
+To search for applications run '''flatpak --user search <appplicationname>'''
 Example:
-<p style="background-color:#f9f9f9; border:1px dashed #2f6fab; line-height:1.1em; padding:1em; font-family:monospace; font-size:10pt; white-space:pre; overflow:auto;"><span style="color:green;">~</span>'''$''' flatpak search chromium
+<p style="background-color:#f9f9f9; border:1px dashed #2f6fab; line-height:1.1em; padding:1em; font-family:monospace; font-size:10pt; white-space:pre; overflow:auto;"><span style="color:green;">~</span>'''$''' flatpak --user search chromium
 Name                   Description                                                        Application ID                        Version       Branch  Remotes
@@ Line 53: / Line 48: @@
 </p>
-<br>
+=== Install flatpak apps ===
-=== Install ===
+When installing a flatpak app, a number of questions regarding what permissions the app requires and what runtimes or other software it needs will be asked.
-To install a package run '''flatpak install <applicationname>'''
+To install a package run '''flatpak --user install <applicationname>'''
-<p style="background-color:#f9f9f9; border:1px dashed #2f6fab; line-height:1.1em; padding:1em; font-family:monospace; font-size:10pt; white-space:pre; overflow:auto;"><span style="color:green;">~</span>'''$''' flatpak install com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium
+<p style="background-color:#f9f9f9; border:1px dashed #2f6fab; line-height:1.1em; padding:1em; font-family:monospace; font-size:10pt; white-space:pre; overflow:auto;"><span style="color:green;">~</span>'''$''' flatpak --user install com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium
 Looking for matches…
@@ Line 81: / Line 76: @@
 </p>
-or if you dont know or dont want to type the exact package name:
+or if you don't know or don't want to type the exact package name:
-<p style="background-color:#f9f9f9; border:1px dashed #2f6fab; line-height:1.1em; padding:1em; font-family:monospace; font-size:10pt; white-space:pre; overflow:auto;"><span style="color:green;">~</span>'''$''' flatpak install chromium
+<p style="background-color:#f9f9f9; border:1px dashed #2f6fab; line-height:1.1em; padding:1em; font-family:monospace; font-size:10pt; white-space:pre; overflow:auto;"><span style="color:green;">~</span>'''$''' flatpak --user install chromium
 Looking for matches…
@@ Line 97: / Line 92: @@
 </p>
+=== Remove flatpak apps ===
-=== Remove ===
+To remove a package run: '''flatpak --user remove <applicationname>'''
-To remove a package run: '''flatpak remove <applicationname>'''
-<p style="background-color:#f9f9f9; border:1px dashed #2f6fab; line-height:1.1em; padding:1em; font-family:monospace; font-size:10pt; white-space:pre; overflow:auto;"><span style="color:green;">~</span>'''$''' flatpak remove com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium
+<p style="background-color:#f9f9f9; border:1px dashed #2f6fab; line-height:1.1em; padding:1em; font-family:monospace; font-size:10pt; white-space:pre; overflow:auto;"><span style="color:green;">~</span>'''$''' flatpak --user remove com.github.Eloston.UngoogledChromium
          ID                                                     Branch           Op
@@ Line 113: / Line 107: @@
-or if you dont know or dont want to type the exact package name:
+or if you don't know or don't want to type the exact package name:
-<p style="background-color:#f9f9f9; border:1px dashed #2f6fab; line-height:1.1em; padding:1em; font-family:monospace; font-size:10pt; white-space:pre; overflow:auto;"><span style="color:green;">~</span>'''$''' flatpak remove chromium
+<p style="background-color:#f9f9f9; border:1px dashed #2f6fab; line-height:1.1em; padding:1em; font-family:monospace; font-size:10pt; white-space:pre; overflow:auto;"><span style="color:green;">~</span>'''$''' flatpak --user remove chromium
 Similar installed refs found for ‘chromium’:
@@ Line 126: / Line 120: @@
 </p>
+== Troubleshooting ==
-== Developers ==
+{{Draft|More documentation and testing is needed, but everything currently here should be safe to follow.}}
-* [https://docs.flatpak.org/en/latest/available-runtimes.html Flatpak - available runtimes]
+=== Permission errors ===
-These are all hosted on [https://flathub.org/ Flathub.org].
+If you receive errors about permissions then you may need to add your user to the '''flatpak''' group.
+{{Note|You need to log out and log back in or reboot for the group change(s) to take effect}}
-== Troubleshooting ==
+=== Application launch errors ===
-=== Permission errors ===
-If you receive errors about permissions then you may need to add your user to the '''flatpak''' group.
+If the application is not starting try running it with {{Cmd|<nowiki>flatpak run the.application.name</nowiki>}} on a terminal. If this yields an a dbus error starting with ''Failed to connect to session bus'' then you might solve this by adding
-{{Note|You need to log out and log back in or reboot for the group change(s) to take effect}}
+{{Cmd|<nowiki>export $(dbus-launch)</nowiki>}}
+in {{Path|/etc/profile}}.
 === Fixing audio issues ===
-If you have a minimal setup and don't have access to audio devices you will need to set the XDG_RUNTIME_DIR variable. Save the following script in {{Path|/etc/profile.d/xdg_runtime_dir.sh}} and re-login to have it set up properly.
+Make sure that [[XDG_RUNTIME_DIR]] is properly configured and re-login if necessary.
- if test -z "${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR}"; then
-   export XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/tmp/$(id -u)
- fi
 When you launch a Flatpak you will need to start pulseaudio as well:
 {{Cmd|$ pulseaudio --start && flatpak run com.example.Example}}
 === Unable to upload files ===
-If you are unable to upload files from the host, this maybe due to [https://docs.flatpak.org/en/latest/sandbox-permissions.html Flatpak sanbox] and you may have to manually add the authorization.
+If you are unable to upload files from the host, this maybe due to [https://docs.flatpak.org/en/latest/sandbox-permissions.html Flatpak sandbox] and you may have to manually add the authorization.
 This can be done with the following commands:
@@ Line 172: / Line 162: @@
 {{Cmd|<nowiki>$ flatpak override org.signal.Signal --filesystem=/home/user/Downloads</nowiki>}}
-== Links ==
+=== Error while opening repository ===
+There is a current issue where sometimes flatpak will try to read the system-wide repository even if your install is with --user. This will result in failure to launch a flatpak application with the terminal reading ""error: While opening repository /var/lib/flatpak/repo: opening repo: opendir(/var/lib/flatpak/repo): No such file or directory". An alpine user has posted more information, as well as a workaround, at https://github.com/flatpak/flatpak/issues/5488
+== See also ==
+* [https://flatpak.org/setup/Alpine/ Official setup Guide]
+* [https://docs.flatpak.org/en/latest/available-runtimes.html Flatpak - available runtimes]
 * [https://flatpak.org/ Flatpak]
 * [https://flathub.org/ Flathub]
@@ Line 178: / Line 175: @@
 [[Category:Package Manager]]
-[[Category: Desktop]]