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Sunday, October 3, 2021 at 22:17

Distros Which Adopted Flatpak in 2021

Flatpak is one standardized way for computer end-users to get applications on any GNU/Linux distro any version. With Flatpak there is Flathub, a central place on the internet where users can download applications in Flatpak format like LibreOffice, 0AD Strategy Game, and VLC Media Player. Now, there are several distros which included Flatpak out-of-the-box (called "Flatpak distro" here) so their users could simply click and install applications they want. This article is a simple, practical explanation of Flatpak for everyone especially computing beginners. Let's dive in!

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I Want To Know Flatpak

Simply visit Flathub.org and see applications offered there. For instance, see shooting game Xonotic, web browser Firefox, and a video editor Kdenlive. They are all applications that end-users can install on any GNU/Linux any version through Flatpak. When you want Flatpak apps? For example, when your GNU/Linux version is old and you want a new LibreOffice version not available from your distro. For that purpose, with selection of distros mentioned below, you can do that on your computer.

👉 Important note: some apps available on Flathub.org are proprietary software.

CentOS GNOME

Since version 7, CentOS is a Flatpak distro. CentOS is the gratis, community enterprise created from and compatible to the paid Red Hat Enterprise operating system. CentOS is mostly used at servers but it offers desktop version too. Download CentOS.

elementary OS

Since version 6 codenamed Odin, elementary OS is a Flatpak distro. It is a beautiful OS as well as applications platform that empowers elementary OS laptops. It has its own Flatpak download place that supplies its App Center with pay-what-you-want applications. However, installing apps from Flathub.org is also supported thanks to built-in feature called Sideload. Download elementary. Purchase elementary Laptops.

Endless OS

Since version 3 onwards, Endless OS is a Flatpak distro. Endless was the OS of the discontinued Endless Computers which were mass produced mainly for people at developing countries and computing education without internet access. It is the earliest Flatpak adopter among all GNU/Linux distros and more significantly their developers are active contributors to Flatpak technology itself. For whoever wants to know Flatpak, we recommend to look at Endless OS first. Download Endless.

Fedora

Since version 24 onwards, Fedora is a Flatpak distro. Fedora is a Hawaii originated tech-savvy OS family to Red Hat Enterprise. It is also an OS officially offered by Lenovo for one of its ThinkPad laptops and mass produced by the other laptop manufacturers. Like Endless OS, Fedora developers are active contributors to Flatpak technology itself. Download Fedora or Purchase Fedora Laptops (Lenovo | Star Labs | Laptop With Linux).

Fedora Silverblue

Silverblue is the purely Flatpak version of Fedora Workstation. It is the more technologically advanced desktop OS with the so called "Rollbacks", "OSTree" and "Immutable" features. Download Silverblue.

Linux Mint

Since version 18.3 codenamed Sylvia, Linux Mint is a Flatpak distro. It is a very popular user-friendly OS derived from Ubuntu and is now powering Mint Computers shipped worldwide. Its Software Center supports searching, downloading, and installing apps which are in Flatpak format aside from its standard DEB format. Download Mint | Purchase Mint Computer.

PureOS

Since version 9, PureOS is a Flatpak distro. It is a completely free software, FSF-certified OS that empowers the mass produced privacy-promised Librem laptops and smartphones. It supports Flatpak by default but user should adds Flathub.org manually if they wish to download apps from it. Download PureOS | Purchase Librem Laptop.

Zorin OS

Since version 15, Zorin OS is a Flatpak distro and downloads from Flathub by default. It is a user-friendly, Windows lookalike distro for school and nontech computer users. Download Zorin | Purchase Zorin Laptop.

Related Discussions

On the other hand, distros which did not adopt Flatpak in 2021 among others:

Ubuntu (already has its own Flatpak-like tech named Snap)
Debian (no Flatpak, no Snap either)
MX
Mageia
Manjaro
OpenMandriva
openSUSE
Red Hat
SUSE
Slackware