How to use the command 'flatpak' (with examples)

Flatpak is a command-line tool used to build, install, and run applications and runtimes using a containerized software distribution technology. This article provides examples of various use cases of the ‘flatpak’ command, including running installed applications, installing applications from remote sources, listing installed applications and runtimes, updating applications and runtimes, adding remote sources, removing installed applications, removing unused applications, and retrieving information about installed applications.

Use case 1: Run an installed application

Code:

flatpak run name

Motivation: The motivation for using this example is to launch an installed flatpak application.

Explanation: ‘flatpak run’ is the command used to run a flatpak application. ’name’ refers to the name of the installed application.

Example output:

Application launched successfully.

Use case 2: Install an application from a remote source

Code:

flatpak install remote name

Motivation: The motivation for using this example is to install a flatpak application from a remote source.

Explanation: ‘flatpak install’ is the command used to install a flatpak application. ‘remote’ refers to the remote source from which the application will be installed, and ’name’ refers to the name of the application.

Example output:

Application installation complete.

Use case 3: List all installed applications and runtimes

Code:

flatpak list

Motivation: The motivation for using this example is to view a list of all installed flatpak applications and runtimes.

Explanation: The ‘flatpak list’ command lists all the installed flatpak applications and runtimes.

Example output:

Installed applications and runtimes:
- Application 1
- Application 2
- Runtime 1
- Runtime 2

Use case 4: Update all installed applications and runtimes

Code:

flatpak update

Motivation: The motivation for using this example is to update all installed flatpak applications and runtimes.

Explanation: The ‘flatpak update’ command updates all the installed flatpak applications and runtimes to their latest versions.

Example output:

Update complete. All applications and runtimes are up to date.

Use case 5: Add a remote source

Code:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists remote_name remote_url

Motivation: The motivation for using this example is to add a remote source for installing flatpak applications.

Explanation: ‘flatpak remote-add’ is the command used to add a remote source. ‘–if-not-exists’ is an optional argument that ensures the remote source is only added if it doesn’t already exist. ‘remote_name’ refers to the name of the remote source, and ‘remote_url’ refers to the URL of the remote source.

Example output:

Successfully added remote source: remote_name

Use case 6: Remove an installed application

Code:

flatpak remove name

Motivation: The motivation for using this example is to remove a specific installed flatpak application.

Explanation: ‘flatpak remove’ is the command used to remove an installed flatpak application. ’name’ refers to the name of the application to be removed.

Example output:

Application successfully removed.

Use case 7: Remove all unused applications

Code:

flatpak remove --unused

Motivation: The motivation for using this example is to remove all the unused flatpak applications.

Explanation: The ‘flatpak remove –unused’ command removes all the flatpak applications that are not currently in use.

Example output:

Removed unused applications: Application 1, Application 2

Use case 8: Show information about an installed application

Code:

flatpak info name

Motivation: The motivation for using this example is to retrieve detailed information about a specific installed flatpak application.

Explanation: ‘flatpak info’ is the command used to display information about an installed flatpak application. ’name’ refers to the name of the application.

Example output:

Application Name: Application 1
Version: 1.0.0
Author: John Doe
License: GPL-3.0

Conclusion:

The ‘flatpak’ command provides a comprehensive set of functionalities for building, installing, and managing flatpak applications and runtimes. By following the examples and explanations provided in this article, users can easily perform various operations such as running installed applications, installing applications from remote sources, updating applications and runtimes, adding/removing remote sources, removing installed applications, and retrieving application information. These use cases demonstrate the versatility and convenience of the ‘flatpak’ command.