Install and Use Flatpak on Ubuntu 22.04: Best Universal Package

In this guide, we will walk you through the process of installing and using Flatpak on Ubuntu 22.04. Flatpak is a package management utility that enables you to distribute, install, and manage software without the complexities of dependencies, runtime environments, or specific Linux distributions. Its ability to install software seamlessly across various Linux distributions makes Flatpak on Ubuntu 22.04 a true universal package manager. This eliminates the "dependency hell" often encountered with traditional package management systems.

Now, let’s delve into the steps required to get Flatpak up and running on your Ubuntu 22.04 system.

To successfully complete this guide, you should be logged into your Ubuntu 22.04 server as a non-root user with sudo privileges. If you haven’t already configured this, you can refer to our guide on Initial Server Setup with Ubuntu 22.04.

1. Install Flatpak on Ubuntu 22.04

First, update your local package index to ensure you have the latest information about available packages:

sudo apt update

The Flatpak package is readily available in the default Ubuntu repository. Install it using the following command:

sudo apt install flatpak -y

After the installation completes, verify the installation by checking the Flatpak version:

flatpak --version

2. How To Use Flatpak Package Manager?

Now that Flatpak is installed, let’s explore how to effectively use the package manager.

Enable Flathub on Ubuntu 22.04

Before you can begin searching and installing applications, you need to enable Flathub. Flathub is a widely used and reliable platform for discovering and installing Flatpak applications.

Enable Flathub using the following command:

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

Search Apps with Flatpak

To find a specific application, use the flatpak search command with the application name:

flatpak search <Application_name>

For instance, to search for OpenJDK, run:

flatpak search openjdk

Install an App with Flatpak

Once you’ve located the application you want to install, use the flatpak install command:

flatpak install <Application_name>

For example:

flatpak install openjdk

During the installation process, you might be prompted to select a specific version or runtime.

Install an App with Flatpak select desired version

Upon successful installation, you’ll see output similar to the following:

Uninstall Apps with Flatpak

To remove an application installed via Flatpak, use the flatpak uninstall command, followed by the application’s ID:

flatpak uninstall <APP-ID>

For example:

flatpak uninstall runtime/org.freedesktop.Sdk.Extension.openjdk8

Uninstall Apps with Flatpak Ubuntu 22.04

For more detailed information and advanced usage, refer to the official Flatpak Docs.

3. Uninstall or Remove Flatpak From Ubuntu 22.04

If you decide you no longer need Flatpak, you can remove it from your system using the following command:

sudo apt autoremove flatpak -y

Alternative Solutions for Application Management on Ubuntu 22.04

While Flatpak offers a universal approach to package management, there are alternative methods for installing and managing applications on Ubuntu 22.04. Here are two options:

1. Snap Packages:

Snaps, developed by Canonical (the company behind Ubuntu), are another form of containerized software packages. Like Flatpak, Snaps bundle all dependencies, ensuring consistent application behavior across different systems.

Installation: Snaps are often pre-installed on Ubuntu systems. If not, you can install the snapd daemon using sudo apt install snapd.
Usage: Use the snap find <application_name> command to search for applications. Install with sudo snap install <application_name>. Uninstall with sudo snap remove <application_name>.

Example:

sudo snap install vlc

This command will install the VLC media player as a Snap package.

2. AppImage:

AppImage is a format for distributing portable software on Linux without needing superuser permissions to install the application. It’s a self-contained package that includes all the dependencies needed to run.

Usage: Download the AppImage file, make it executable (chmod +x <appimage_file>), and then run it directly.
Benefits: No installation is required, and AppImages don’t modify the system.
Limitations: Updates are not handled automatically; you need to download the new AppImage version manually.

Example:

Let’s say you downloaded MyApplication.AppImage.

chmod +x MyApplication.AppImage
./MyApplication.AppImage

This will run the application directly from the AppImage file.

Conclusion

You have now learned how to Install and Use Flatpak on Ubuntu 22.04. This powerful tool allows you to install applications easily, regardless of dependencies. We’ve also explored two alternative package management solutions: Snap packages and AppImage. Choosing the right method depends on your specific needs and preferences. Remember that Flatpak on Ubuntu 22.04 helps avoid many dependency issues by isolating the applications from the base operating system.

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