It’s an app store made for distributing Flatpak applications (desktop apps that work on every distro where Flatpak is installed, most distros install flatpak by default now). Flatpaks also allow isolation between apps and a fine permission system like you get on a smartphone (check out Flatseal for that)
I never looked into flatseal and I don’t have any issues with Steam. But I wonder if flatseal can allow a Flatpak Java application to run systemctl poweroff.
I already use FDE. However, unless I’m wrong, FDE does not protect disk clone from occurring. Therefore, if one has access to the password, then also they have access to all my files; including the ones I specifically want to protect. Am I wrong?
So, I’ll make it simple for ya, you don’t need to understand why; however, I seek for some method that prevents files from being copied through disk cloning. Them files being encrypted or whatsoever doesn’t do a thing if the password is known. Unless you propose a method by which the password used to decrypt/unlock the disk on device X doesn’t work when it’s cloned to another disk. If, somehow, one has to rely on another password to decrypt the disk on device Y, then that might make it work out.
Yes but surely you’re aware that even the most new-user-friendly distros and their tools aren’t necessarily aimed at new users.
That warning is a perfect example of how Linux developers choose which hill to die on. They post a warning for an app that everyone knows can deliver bad times to two camps of users; those that know and don’t care and those that don’t understand the warning. If we could quantify the helpfulness of that warning, odds are that it saved 0 users from malicious action from that avenue of attack.
Never expect Linux as a whole to be “helpful” to the new crowd.
Which is why I said “linux as a whole”. Many distros will try to undo the nerdery and neckbeardism that is built into the parent distros but as a whole, linux is going to always be less welcoming to a new user than someone that’s used to useless warnings and repeated password entries for elevated privileges. Being safer and being new-user-friendly rarely go hand in hand.
Not all user friendly distros have a parent distro. Checkout Solus.
There are sometimes things upstream causing problems. The Linux kernel itself isn’t one of them though as Linus is pretty adamant that Linux distributions should be easy to setup and use. KDE is also designed to be pretty friendly while being customizable still. The main issues seem to come from apps and distributions.
I like flatpaks and flathub, but this is just something they do badly. I think as well they also have “probably safe” which is just as unhelpful… And what does “access certain files and folders” even mean!?
I think they should just follow the example of every other app store; list the permissions in an easily understandable list and let the user decide whether or not they are comfortable with it.
I think they should just follow the example of every other app store; list the permissions in an easily understandable list and let the user decide whether or not they are comfortable with it.
Totally agree. The “verified” label will give new users enough comfort, and the ones who wish to know more will read the permissions.
When I look at Firefox in Discover, it only shows the list of permissions the flatpak will be given out of the box, with no warning of it being “potentially unsafe.” This certainly does seem like the better way to handle it.
Also, the warning on the Flathub website is clickable - it expands into the full permissions list. Why it defaults to “no information except maybe dangerous” is beyond me.
beyond root processes, none that I am aware of. Hence I configured all my internet applications and steam to run in a jail :) firejail & bubblewrap come as native packages, unlike the flatpak contents
Such a list makes no sense. What do you try to find out, its better to ask in a normal way instead like asking ChatGPT question phrases. What is your goal? Does it include Gaming in example? You should learn what stable vs unstable means, what LTS stands for and what a rolling release is. Some distributions follow a fixed release cycle, but that does not mean they update everything in the system. So is it slow or fast? There are so much nuances to this. Maybe this list helps you: en.wikipedia.org/…/Comparison_of_Linux_distributi…
Many flatpaks are not aware of their sandbox and thus have a bad ux.
E.g. flatpak Steam can’t access SteamLibraries at a non-default location, unless the user manually allows the path through flatseal. The same is true for other similar apps which don’t use the file portal.
Issues like this are unexpected for new users and thus it can be argued that flatpak aren’t a good recommendation for new users. I personally disagree because most flatpak work flawlessly and work everywhere independent of a users distro.
Flatpak is one extra step. If apt or rpm already has what you want, which is true for many new users, why would we push them towards scary click thru action?
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