Software app and flatpack not always very good

General Help
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1

This is not a question, but more of a tip to help someone else onboarding to Zorin from Mac.

Since I started using Zorin last week and I installed "all my stuff" (my applications) that I used have on my Mac this has happened to me for several apps, that installing them via the "Software" app in Zorin was not a good choice. The apps lose some of their ability to interact with the OS outside the app itself, even though the app as such works fine.

Example 1: Vivaldi browser and PWA:s (Progressive Web Applications)
When you create a PWA through Vivaldi in Zorin, the apps don't get an icon and aren't searchable to quick launch via the Zorin menu (super key).
If you install Vivaldi via the *.deb (Debian package) from the vivaldi download page this works like expected out of the box.

Example 2: Proton Pass
If you download and install Proton pass through the Software app in Zorin, you can't copy and paste the user names and password from Proton Pass as intended. You need to put the password entry into edit mode for the copy to register on the OS level so that you can bring the "clip" over to another app, like your browser.
When you install Proton Pass via the *.deb package from Proton's web site this behaviour works as expected/intended. You click the field of the entry in Proton Pass, it gets stored in the OS "clip memory" and you switch over to the app where you intend to paste it and it works,

2

I have long found it to be problematic that the Software Store defaults to Flaptak.
It should default to the Standard APT packages, to reduce frustration, confusion and troubleshooting.

3 Likes
3

Hi, this is the problem with flatpak (and snaps) is that they are 'sandboxed'. If I were still using Zorin, the first thing I would do is:

  1. Remove both flatpak and snap.

  2. Install Synaptic Package Manager:

sudo apt install synaptic
  1. Remove gnome-software (Software)
sudo apt-get remove gnome-software

Synaptic can be used to both update system software and applications. To check for updates in Synaptic it is a simple case of clicking on 'Reload', then 'Mark all upgrades' and if there are any it will open a window to show what updates are ready to be installed, then click on 'Apply'. Job done. Synaptic only uses APT.

If you want a separate application updater, 'Apper' is quite snappy (no pun intended).

4

Yes, for a consumer "non-techie" audience the Software store is unfortunately almost an obstacle, rather than a help.

4 Likes
5

I think this may be better placed in "Feedback" section, what do Mods think?

I am getting wary of chaos caused by different package methods particularly Flatpak and Snap. So cannot disagree with posts above.

6

I will formulate a seperate Feedback Comment to this.