Flatpak package - Request

[sigulete]

Hi,

Is there a plan to offer SoftMaker as a flatpak package accessible from Flathub?

It would make the Linux offering easier to maintain as you don't have to deal with multiple distributions and dependencies.
If SoftMaker is available as a flatpak, all dependencies can be updated to an ideal environment bringing the best of this software to most Linux distributions.

This would also be easier to consume, in particular when using immutable distributions that seem to be the trend and the future.

[lgsl]

While it could be convenient for those who relies on flatpak for SM Office to be there, is important to notice too that not everyone like flatpaks, hence non-flatpak versions would need to keep being maintained anyhow. Not to mention that while the flatpak ecosystem has some advantages, as you point out, also have weaknesses that can be quite annoying.

Reality of packaging for different distributions is not as complex as you think. Once you have your deb/spec file working correctly the process can be automatic, all you need is to trigger a new build. It does gets tricky with distributions that use alternatives to glibc and other non-standard libraries. That's where the flatpak could come handy.

I think your request is reasonable, only if the current offering still remains and SM Office is not locked into a flatpak/snaps scheme.

[sigulete]

You are right, not everyone likes universal packages. I was proposing to add Flatpak as an additional offering, but not as a replacement of the standard deb/rpm format.

It happens that I also use Vivaldi web browser which was distributed as a deb/rpm-only until now. One month ago, they released a Flatpak version and it works flawless. Flathub page shows 16k downloads in less than a month, so it looks popular and well received even though they have a note informing that it is not officially endorsed. I can foresee similar level of interest for SM Office.

[SuperTech]

Thank you for your suggestion, but currently there is no such plan. I have forwarded this as an improvement suggestion.

[marcelfdegroot]

Perhaps you could reconsider providing a Flatpak?

I'm running an atomic desktop (Bazzite) and this software being provided as a Flatpak would make my life quite a lot easier.
Presumably it would also make the reach and appeal of this software greater, considering that e.g. LibreOffice and OnlyOffice do provide Flatpaks?

Would be greatly appreciated!

[hla]

I endorse this request to build a flatpak / flathub.org version of your software so it can be more easy to find for newcomers to Linux.

I am not a Linux newcomer, nor some kind of a purist, so I regulary choose flatpaks just because it's easier to get software that way (especially new versions) and proprietary software. We can't expect everything to be OSS nor should we.

Additionally, what about your FreeOffice offer, would you add that (as well) to flathub?

[Hidden]

Hello, I‘d like to add my request for a flatpak version, since more and more GNU/Linux Distros are immutable/atomic. Fedora, (open)Suse, Ubuntu (upcoming) just to name the big ones. Almost all Gaming-Distros are somehow immutable (currently there is a massive movement from Windows to GNU/Linux).

I moved from Windows to Bazzite (based on Fedora Silberblue) and I’m not able to install my Softmaker NX in a regular/supported way. Currently I’m using openSUSE 15.6, as my daily workstation, which will be EOL by next year and be replaced by an immutable Distro too (Suse ALP). I do not want to change to LibreOffice or any other Office Suite - currently. Please consider flatpack support.

[lgsl]

Hello, I‘d like to add my request for a flatpak version, since more and more GNU/Linux Distros are immutable/atomic. Fedora, (open)Suse, Ubuntu (upcoming) just to name the big ones. Almost all Gaming-Distros are somehow immutable (currently there is a massive movement from Windows to GNU/Linux).

I moved from Windows to Bazzite (based on Fedora Silberblue) and I’m not able to install my Softmaker NX in a regular/supported way. Currently I’m using openSUSE 15.6, as my daily workstation, which will be EOL by next year and be replaced by an immutable Distro too (Suse ALP). I do not want to change to LibreOffice or any other Office Suite - currently. Please consider flatpack support.

You are misinformed. openSUSE Leap is not being replaced by an immutable version. In fact, version 16 was released in October and will be supported up to around 2030. The next release of SEL will feature an immutable/atomic like model, but not openSUSE Leap.

Is true that SteamOS, Bazzite and KDE Linux are immutable, that was a deliberate choice by the developers: The do not want you to be able to have control over the system. Immutable distros are not the future because of that same thing. Its use is niche; it will never be streamline. The whole idea of flatpak and Snaps looks quite good on paper, but in practice it does not work, not really. It's a package system that creates lots of bloat (you can easily have 5 version of the same library, plus the one already on the core system, is a stupid system) and has been proven other the years that their "security" model is just nonsense, this year alone there where several scandals over snaps with malware. I understand that for you is convenient because you choose to use fedora's nonofficial Bazzite experiment (Yes, the head of Bazzite is a Fedora employee).

I am not so sure SM will bother with a flatpak just to amuse a few users of niche linux distros that take away control of the system to the user and force them to use half-cooked package-manager solutions that resides in $HOME. Maybe you will get lucky but is probably unlikely.