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JQAdams

Member

Registered: Today

Posts: 3  

Avoiding FlatPak, Snap, and Other Package Managers

I am about to install Devuan (Stable) with the KDE Desktop onto a desktop PC. I have a couple of questions, however.

(1) Is it OK if I use the Synaptic Package Manager (or Apper), whenever possible, to install software applications instead of FlatPak (or some other distribution system)?

Other distros, like Linux Mint, require that you use FlatPak. Using something else appears to cause problems. However, I don't like FlatPak, Snap, Discover, and other similar package managers. I would prefer to avoid them.

(2) Should I install ONLY ONE desktop environment? Or, can I install both KDE and GNOME?

greenjeans

Member

Registered: 2017-04-07

Posts: 1,637  

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Re: Avoiding FlatPak, Snap, and Other Package Managers

1. 100% yes. Period.

2. Up to you, don't see why it wouldn't work, though gnome may give you some misery.

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PedigreeCat

Member

From: Warsaw

Registered: 2026-05-08

Posts: 7  

Re: Avoiding FlatPak, Snap, and Other Package Managers

1. This is even (probably?) recommended. The .deb packages in the repository are built for a specific distribution and are optimized for the system better than (usually) generic Flatpak applications. There are distributions that try to adapt (themselves to) Flatpak/Snap, but Devuan doesn’t seem to be one of them.
Personally, I don’t like Flatpak or Snap, as they’re a hassle to set up their privileges in KDE and have various non-obvious limitations. I tolerate AppImage, though. As for package managers, I prefer Synaptic because it gives me sound control over what I install - with recommended packages, without them, excluding packages from updates, etc. However, Discover is also fine, especially for installing Plasma add-ons, themes, icons, desktop elements, etc.

2. I tried KDE5 and Trinity at the same system once, and it worked, so it’s possible. As for GNOME - I don’t know; I’m not a fan of that desktop environment.

Last edited by PedigreeCat (Today 18:27:25)

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rolfie

Member

Registered: 2017-11-25

Posts: 1,443  

Re: Avoiding FlatPak, Snap, and Other Package Managers

First of all: welcome to the Dev1Galaxy.

Other distros, like Linux Mint, require that you use FlatPak. Using something else appears to cause problems.

I am sorry, your statement definitely isn't close to correct. Mint, no matter if native or the LMDE variant, can fully be used w/o any flatpack. They have their "Anwendungsverwaltung" (don't know the English term) for installation of packages, they have ditched Synaptics from the default installation against a new tooling, but you can still install and use it. You also may use the console and e.g. apt.

You may install flatpacks, but that is an exception but no way the rule.

Here under Debian/Devuan Synaptics is fine, using the console is fine too.

Discover as a KDE app seems to habe problems every now and then. I have seen one or the other thread about Discover not connecting to the internet, not finding apps ... Well, I don't use KDE, I prefer Cinnamon.

More than one desktop: It may work, but I have also seen threads about conflicts due to Desktop dependent different configs for the same program. Give it a try, it may work, but don't be too much disappointed if you run into problems. When I try out something I use one desktop in a VM.

Last edited by rolfie (Today 18:04:11)