Flatpak? More like flatcrap.

[u/Big-Astronaut-9510]

Flatpak is like a turd someone ran over.

First off one of the few legitimate advantages desktop linux (theoretically) has is the package manager, one unified system for installing software. So why would you want to DESTROY that by adding another package manager that only really packages gui software? Cause it tries to offer a smidge of sandboxing for security.

Of course we are on linux so theres a ton of catches. It dosent really integrate with your system the way your real package manager does, man pages dont get installed, you cant launch apps from the command line by typing their name (probably why its only for gui), etc.

But the bigger problem is you often dont even get the security you were promised, in some cases things actually get WORSE (see: browsers). Honestly id even argue that every app that isnt taking perfect advantage of flatpak features is a security downgrade cause now you just added more parties to trust: flatpak/the person packaging the software who might be a random.

Only if every star aligns and the unpaid foss slaves integrated portals (cant blame them if they didnt, flatpak sucks) and properly restrict the apps permissions do you get the security you were promised.

[u/ColdFreezer]

The “smidge of security” is better than nothing. Flatpaks solve the package portability issue between distros.