Flatpak has emerged as a leading method for developers to package and distribute software on Linux, particularly for Ubuntu users. Despite Ubuntu not officially supporting Flatpak, users can still successfully run it along with Flathub, the primary source for Flatpak applications. However, a common challenge for users is managing these Flatpak apps, as Ubuntu lacks a dedicated tool for this purpose.
Most GNOME-based Linux distributions utilize GNOME Software for managing software installations and updates. While Ubuntu includes tools for DEB and snap packages, there’s no built-in option for Flatpaks. Users do not need to rely solely on GNOME Software; there is a standalone application called Warehouse that provides essential Flatpak management features without the complexity of a full-fledged software center.
Warehouse: Your Flatpak Management Solution
Warehouse simplifies the management of Flatpak applications on Ubuntu with a user-friendly interface. Unlike GNOME Software, it does not focus on now-flourishing software discovery, but it offers a robust set of features tailored for Flatpak handling:
- Monitor and manage installed Flatpaks
- Temporarily disable updates for specific applications or runtimes
- Downgrade to previous versions
- Organize and sift through installed packages and data
- Clean up residual data from uninstalled applications
- Add popular Flatpak sources or customize your own
- Create snapshots of app data
- Search and install packages from designated remotes
- Install and remove multiple apps in batches
- Support for .flatpakref files
Although Warehouse serves as a comprehensive tool for Flatpak management, it currently lacks an update notification system, meaning that users must manually check for updates. This could complicate keeping applications up to date, especially since Ubuntu doesn’t come with GNOME Software preinstalled to handle such tasks.
The developer has expressed intentions to incorporate update notifications in Warehouse’s future versions, which would further enhance its utility. Meanwhile, users can periodically run the command flatpak update to keep their applications current. Because Warehouse respects any modifications made to package settings, it works seamlessly with the Flatpak CLI.
Installing Warehouse on Ubuntu
Users interested in trying Warehouse can install it via Flathub. The installation command flatpak install flathub io.github.flattool.Warehouse will fetch the application, which has a modest download size of 1.2 MB and requires the GNOME 47 runtime if it isn’t already set up.
More information about Warehouse can be found on its Flathub page.