Also: How to choose the right Linux desktop distribution for you And with both Flatpak and Snap, you can install third-party (non-open-source) applications like Spotify and Slack (that would otherwise be a bit challenging to install for those not accustomed to the command line). In other words, Flatpak and Snap make it far easier to install the applications you need on Linux. Also: The best Linux laptops The problem is, out of the box, many Linux distributions might include Snap and Flatpak, but they don’t configure the desktop in such a way that either of these technologies is built into the GUI app stores. Because of that, in order to install a Flatpak app, you’d have to issue a command like: flatpak install spotify OK, that’s not even remotely challenging but if you’re not used to the command line, running something as simple as that can be a bit daunting. Such is the case with many KDE Plasma distributions. For example, KDE Neon (which is a distribution that does a great job of showing off what KDE Plasma can do), ships with Flatpak installed, but support isn’t rolled into the Discover app store. Also: How to install Linux applications from the command line I want to show you how to fix that. Once you’ve taken care of this, you’ll be installing all the apps you need, without having to bother with the command line. Fair warning, you do have to use the command line to set this up. Fortunately, all you’ll have to do is copy and paste a single command. Speaking of which, let’s get to it.
How to enable Flatpak support in KDE Plasma’s app store
What you’ll need: I’ll demonstrate this on KDE Neon, which is a Ubuntu-based distribution. If you’re using a non-Ubuntu-based distribution, you’ll have to alter the installation command accordingly (such as switching out apt-get for dnf, when using a Fedora-based distribution). With that in mind, it’s time to copy and paste.
How to install a Flatpak app in Discover
The good news is, installing a Flatpak application in Discover is as easy as installing any other. To do this, click the Discover icon in your KDE Plasma panel. When Discover opens, search for Slack. In the Slack listing, you’ll notice it’s labeled with the Flatpak icon (which indicates it’s a Flatpak app). Click Install and the installation will begin. Also: Bodhi Linux can make your old computer feel brand new The app should automatically be highlighted, so all you then have to do is hit Enter on your keyboard to open the terminal. The one thing to note is installing Flatpak apps isn’t quite as fast as installing regular applications. That is because the size of the download file is considerably larger than a regular application (because the Flatpak app includes all the necessary dependencies). Also: 8 things you can do with Linux that you can’t do with MacOS or Windows Once the application is installed, you can open it from your desktop menu and use it exactly as you would on any other desktop. Congratulations, my friend, you not only expanded the number (and types) of applications you can add to the Linux desktop, but you also made it easier to do so.
