In this tutorial, we will show you how to install Flatpak on AlmaLinux 8. For those of you who didn’t know, Flatpak is a next-generation package management system that aims to simplify the distribution and installation of applications across various Linux distributions. It utilizes a sandboxing approach, isolating applications from the underlying system and providing a secure runtime environment. Flatpak packages, known as “bundles,” contain all the necessary dependencies, libraries, and runtime components, ensuring that applications can run seamlessly on different distributions without compatibility issues.
One of the key advantages of Flatpak is its cross-distribution compatibility. Developers can create a single Flatpak package that works across multiple Linux distributions, eliminating the need for distribution-specific packaging. This streamlines the development and distribution process, making it easier for users to access a wide range of applications.
Moreover, Flatpak’s sandboxing features enhance security by isolating applications from the host system. Each application runs in its own isolated environment, preventing unauthorized access to system resources and minimizing the potential impact of security vulnerabilities.
This article assumes you have at least basic knowledge of Linux, know how to use the shell, and most importantly, you host your site on your own VPS. The installation is quite simple and assumes you are running in the root account, if not you may need to add ‘sudo‘ to the commands to get root privileges. I will show you the step-by-step installation of the Flatpak future of application distribution on AlmaLinux 8. You can follow the same instructions for Rocky Linux.
Prerequisites
- A server running one of the following operating systems: AlmaLinux 8.
- It’s recommended that you use a fresh OS install to prevent any potential issues.
- An active internet connection. You’ll need an internet connection to download the necessary packages and dependencies for Flatpak.
- A
non-root sudo useror access to theroot user. We recommend acting as anon-root sudo user, however, as you can harm your system if you’re not careful when acting as the root.
Install Flatpak on AlmaLinux 8
Step 1. Before installing Flatpak, it’s essential to ensure that your AlmaLinux 8 system is up to date. Open a terminal and run the following command to update the system packages:
sudo dnf update sudo dnf install epel-release
This command will fetch the latest package information and upgrade any outdated packages to their latest versions. Keeping your system updated is crucial for maintaining stability, security, and compatibility.
Step 2. Installing Flatpak on AlmaLinux 8.
Flatpak is already in the official repository of these RPM-based Linux distros, Now run the following command to install it:
sudo dnf install flatpak
Step 3. Add the Flathub repository.
The next step will be to add Flatpak’s repository from where we will download and install applications. Here. we are adding Flathub since it’s the most popular and widely used repository:
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo sudo dnf update
After successfully adding the Flathub repository, it’s recommended to restart your AlmaLinux 8 system. This ensures that Flatpak is properly integrated into the system path and ready for use. Reboot your system using the following command:
reboot
Once your system restarts, you can proceed to use Flatpak for managing applications.
Step 4. Install the Application using Flatpak.
Search the application name by using the following syntax:
flatpak search [application_name]
For example, if we want to search Spotify application through Flatpak then, the following command used to search Spotify by using the Flatpak software:
flatpak install flathub com.spotify.Client
To run a Flatpak application, execute the command:
flatpak run com.spotify.Client
Congratulations! You have successfully installed Flatpak. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Flatpak on your AlmaLinux 8 system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Flatpak website.
