this post was submitted on 12 Mar 2026
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Why Flatpak Won and Snap and AppImage Didn't. - Cameron Knauff (youtube.com)
submitted 1 week ago by ruffsl@programming.dev to c/linux@programming.dev
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[–] the16bitgamer@programming.dev 49 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

I use flatpak and app images for different uses.

App images are like portable exe files for onetime use apps. Like Rufus

Flatpaks are like installable exes from the devs website. Used for apps I want to used and use again on my machine.

[–] jimmy90@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

i dont believe a single person in this post

[–] Kirk@startrek.website 23 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yeah Flatpacks aren't really "competing" with Appimages the way they are with Snaps.

[–] lengau@midwest.social 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Flatpaks are only "competing" with a small portion of what snaps do.

[–] Kirk@startrek.website 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Oh ok I didn't realize that. I've personally never encountered a situation where I needed a Snap because a Flatpak lacked functionality.

[–] lengau@midwest.social 5 points 1 week ago

Snaps are more comparable to nix, really. They can provide system services and even your kernel. Flatpaks and AppImages are only really about distributing desktop apps, but the rest of the system still needs to be provided another way.