Best way to install packages

[joepesci2]

In fact, if you look more carefully at the instructions for installing Brave you will see tat you first have to add the repositories for Brave to your sources and then you do actually install it with apt.

Obsidian you will see is an appimage so is not really installed at all, it is simply a single executable file like an archive with all necessary dependencies, as already described before in this thread.

Install brave the way it was meant to be installed, you will need those instructions as presented in the link.

Those folks (Brave) know what they are doing, and will keep you updated with fix's along with new features.

Not all PPA's are bad for our systems, but that takes time for you to get to place where you trust any outside sources you add to the mix.

The Obsidian as a debian.deb is all ready discussed very well here.

My question came because in this same thread many colleagues have commented that its not advisable to add external repositories to the official Ubuntu ones.
They have also recommended installing .deb packages directly.

Obviously im a real novice in all this and i like to listen to and follow the advice of experts.
But im a bit dizzy with so much information.
I hope you will excuse my repetition.

Thank you very much.

[1fallen]

My question is Do you trust the folks that created Brave? >>> I do!

It's all about trust I run 3 or PPA's for many years now, BUT I became familiar with them read about them (the one I add that is) some are poorly maintained so they they help in adding a mistrust if you will.

A slow row is advisable until you get your sea legs underneath you.....Just takes time.

[joepesci2]

My question is Do you trust the folks that created Brave? >>> I do!

It's all about trust I run 3 or PPA's for many years now, BUT I became familiar with them read about them (the one I add that is) some are poorly maintained so they they help in adding a mistrust if you will.

A slow row is advisable until you get your sea legs underneath you.....Just takes time.

I understand what you mean.
But beyond your answer, this is where the core of my thread is.
Im clear that apt is the best, the safest, the least corrupt.
But many programs are not in APT, if everything else (snap, flatpak, .deb...) has some disadvantage, isnt this a huge handicap for Linux?

It isnt a malicious question, its a sincere question with total humility.

[Dennis N]

I read comments that are not very favorable to Snap and Flatpak, this puts us in a difficult situation hahaha
What do you think? Thank you very much for your message.

I don't see the difficulty. Usually you stick to the Ubuntu repository software for most applications which are installed with your installation, or added later using the App Center, Gnome Software, by a terminal command, or the venerable Synaptic Package Manager.

You may not need anything else, but eventually you will read about an application you might want to try and use, but there is no .deb file yet and may not be for a long time if ever. So you use one of the other package types - Flatpak, Snap, AppImage. Or you may just want a newer version of an application than the one provided with your installation.

Do some investigation outside of this forum. Ask Google "What are the pros and cons of using flatpak applications?" You get a generated summary, plus a lot of links to visit. Spend some time reading. And try a few Flatpaks yourself for a while, then decide.

[joepesci2]

I don't see the difficulty. Usually you stick to the Ubuntu repository software for most applications which are installed with your installation, or added later using the App Center, Gnome Software, by a terminal command, or the venerable Synaptic Package Manager.

You may not need anything else, but eventually you will read about an application you might want to try and use, but there is no .deb file yet and may not be for a long time if ever. So you use one of the other package types - Flatpak, Snap, AppImage. Or you may just want a newer version of an application than the one provided with your installation.

Do some investigation outside of this forum. Ask Google "What are the pros and cons of using flatpak applications?" You get a generated summary, plus a lot of links to visit. Spend some time reading. And try a few Flatpaks yourself for a while, then decide.

Hi Dennis, how are you?
For you, these may be silly or simple questions, but for me, as a new Linux user, they are more complicated and difficult questions.
Im not saying this with any malice, i just wanted to clarify this and apologize if im being very repetitive.

My questions come from the fact that, thanks to the help and colleagues on the forum, i have understood that installing outside of APT has its complications and contraindications, so its always advisable to install from APT.
And as i said before, that's where the problem comes in, when a software isnt in the APT repository.
I wouldnt like to try any apt hell, or any similar problem.

Anyway, as you said, i will read more information about FLATPAK, APPIMAGE, etc.

Thank you very much for your help and messages.
I hope you understand my newbie questions. Greetings!

[Dennis N]

My questions come from the fact that, thanks to the help and colleagues on the forum, i have understood that installing outside of APT has its complications and contraindications, so its always advisable to install from APT.

yes, the Ubuntu Repositories are usually the 1st option. In years of use, I haven't had any noteworthy problems or concerns from installing and using Flatpaks. The links I gave lay out the pros and cons for you. You then need to see for yourself and decide. Would you buy a used car without a test drive?

[joepesci2]

yes, the Ubuntu Repositories are usually the 1st option. In years of use, I haven't had any noteworthy problems or concerns from installing and using Flatpaks. The links I gave lay out the pros and cons for you. You then need to see for yourself and decide. Would you buy a used car without a test drive?

You are right and i understand what you mean.
I will definitely investigate and try things out.
I will also have to use a .deb for some software, because there isnt APT installation or alternative through Flatpak or Snap, so i will have to download the .deb from the manufacturers official website.

Thank you very much for your time and help.

[Dennis N]

I will also have to use a .deb for some software, because there isnt APT installation or alternative through Flatpak or Snap, so i will have to download the .deb from the manufacturers official website.

Realize that:

A .deb file NOT from the Ubuntu Repository may not install on your system because the dependencies are not available in the Ubuntu repository or are not the correct version needed. This is more likely if your Ubuntu is older, like 20.04.

The Apt Center should be in a minimal install. I did a minimal install of Ubuntu 24.04 and it was included. It is a snap package, so you should already have your first snap. The newest App Center version is supposed to install .deb files for you. I haven't tested that out.

About AppImages: AppImages are not 100% self-contained. They also rely on libraries that the packager assumes will be on any Linux distro. For example, my AppImage of LibreOffice will not run on Ubuntu as-is, because the libfuse2 library is needed and not included. Once you install that, it works.

[hifron]

some appimages could be automatically refreshed upon start(electron build could do that) and there are also unofficial apps with GUI for that, but maybe electron needs gateway addons like stripe to its app-menus so donations or other methods could be more easy to monetize according salesman or appmaker choice or sales policies acquired or delegated.

But problem is also there is some service needed for check-in for problems with appimages or refuse to install, download or update them(from where(and with own hosting?)) and that's not so common with provider selection for that if any or some policies built-in...

I cannot simply make download all packages and verify them with some service of my choice or delegate it for some consumer association...

and therefore there is no matlab in flathub or snap or appimage... or any commercial viable product... or any .deb with clickable install with deb repo automatically added because making server with such repo is headache, but maybe not so hard to implement, but maybe hard to admin or hard to invent outside debian world

[joepesci2]

Nothing wrong with either of the 2 choices you show For Brave or Obsidian (appimage)
There is no dumb questions we weren't born knowing any of this, only Dumb replies.

In fact, if you look more carefully at the instructions for installing Brave you will see tat you first have to add the repositories for Brave to your sources and then you do actually install it with apt.

Obsidian you will see is an appimage so is not really installed at all, it is simply a single executable file like an archive with all necessary dependencies, as already described before in this thread.

Good afternoon! Im taking advantage of this thread to ask you a question regarding the installation of Brave or any other app that needs to add a repository.

Once i add the repositories and install Brave, i must keep those repositories so that it continues to apply updates, etc. Right?
If i delete them once Brave is installed, i assume it wont update anything, is that correct?


And i would also like to know if there is any way to know which repositories to trust.
For example, we know that Brave is something serious and there isnt much doubt in its repositories, but is there any tip or trick to be more secure?

Thank you very much for your help and your time.