So, I've never installed anything via flatpak.
I can understand your hesitation, I really can.
i must admit I had a moment or three where I reconsidered, read some more, and then read a whole lot more......buty, only listening to thiose who approached the topic of flatpaks in a logical sense.
The person I ended up paying most attention to was Clem. (Linuxmint)
Put simply, flatpaks are sandboxed and have all dependencies that are needed.
They 'fit' seamlessly with already installed apps......there are no fight.
My main nvme ssd holds 250GB, and is currently 13.5% full
I have everything in the way of apps that I need, and then some.
Flatpak update regularly, via the update manager......quite often without need for my password. That is not to be wary of, it is the approved behaviour.
Currently I am running 26 flatpaks. From the terminal,...
brian@brian-desktop:~$ flatpak list
Name Application ID Version Branch Installation
Dialect app.drey.Dialect 2.2.0 stable system
calibre ….calibre_ebook.calibre 7.4.0 stable system
Video Downloader ….unrud.VideoDownloader 0.12.10 stable system
GtkStressTesting com.leinardi.gst 0.7.6 stable system
Flatsweep …ntpinkrobots.flatsweep v2023.12.17 stable system
Waterfox net.waterfox.waterfox 6.0.8 stable system
Freedesktop Plat… …g.freedesktop.Platform 22.08.20 22.08 system
Freedesktop Plat… …g.freedesktop.Platform 23.08.10 23.08 system
Mesa …op.Platform.GL.default 23.3.0 22.08 system
Mesa (Extra) …op.Platform.GL.default 23.3.0 22.08-extra system
Mesa …op.Platform.GL.default 23.3.2 23.08 system
Mesa (Extra) …op.Platform.GL.default 23.3.2 23.08-extra system
Intel …p.Platform.VAAPI.Intel 22.08 system
Intel …p.Platform.VAAPI.Intel 23.08 system
ffmpeg-full …p.Platform.ffmpeg-full 23.08 system
openh264 …ktop.Platform.openh264 2.1.0 2.2.0 system
GNOME Applicatio… org.gnome.Platform 45 system
gnome platform t… ….gnome.Platform.Locale 43 system
Mint-Y Gtk Theme …g.gtk.Gtk3theme.Mint-Y 3.22 system
Mint-Y-Aqua Gtk … ….Gtk3theme.Mint-Y-Aqua 3.22 system
Mint-Y-Blue Gtk … ….Gtk3theme.Mint-Y-Blue 3.22 system
Mint-Y-Sand Gtk … ….Gtk3theme.Mint-Y-Sand 3.22 system
GtkHash org.gtkhash.gtkhash 1.5 stable system
KDE Application … org.kde.Platform 5.15-23.08 system
ISO Image Writer org.kde.isoimagewriter 1.0.0 stable system
KPatience org.kde.kpat 23.08.4 stable system
brian@brian-desktop:~$
Important: :: In Update Manager preferences, packages, Update types....tick the box for Flatpak Updates, and also cinnamon Spice Updates.
Some of the updates will appear huge to you....but remember it is simply replacing files in the original 'pack'.....not adding gb to it )
As always, a trusted source is Its Foss.
Learn all the essentials for managing Flatpak packages in this beginner's guide.
itsfoss.com
My approach?....don't overthink it...it is simply just a 'different' way of getting all the ducks in a row.....getting the necessary dependencies in the one place at the one time. Really?...it is an incredibly simple idea that has been done beautifully.
If Clem trusts his beloved Linux Mint to Flatpaks, I am not about to argue
Thanks for pointing out FreeTube. The flatpak is downloading as I type.
One last thing. The usual Software Manager repository has a lot of flatpaks. I use them at every opportunity