@hcvv and there in lies the issue, many (for the average user) are oss now, Packman has just about run it’s course and blindly switching these days should not be recommended…
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@hcvv for some Mesa AMD GPU features that a user may or may not need…
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On a side note, if it’s just VLC needed, then probably the VideoLan (which provides libdvdcss for those that need) route would be better if not wanting to use a flatpak
What is the reason for the existence of Packman then when we do not need it anymore for crippled multi-media?
BTW, I use Leap and thus I assume that the second half of your explanation does not fit my situation. Also Aeon and Kalpa Are words I have seen, but I have no idea about their reason of existence and thus of their relation with multi-media.
And if you want another media player?
Mesa is the basic 3D graphics library installed on every graphical desktop.
The Packman version is only needed at present for ancient AMD GPUs needing hardware accelerated video decoding, presumably because they are paired to ancient CPUs… so it is overkill for most users and every time there is an upgrade it goes out of sync in Packman.
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Beyond my pay scale.
yes, it is.
@hcvv use of Flatpaks in an openSUSE release, Aeon and Kapla since the root filesystem is RO install as your user and enjoy… I use them here on Leap, MicroOS and Tumbleweed…
What is “them” here? Kalpa and Aeon?
@hcvv Flatpaks on normal openSUSE release…
Aren’t they software from “third parties”? When yes, I rather like to stick to my trusted openSUSE.
@karlggest if it’s packaged and in the oss repo, install it and test? Else look at a flatpak version?
Your trusted openSUSE is with Packman. Which is 3rd party and can break things.
openSUSE + Flatpak implies that the 3rd party installed software cannot interfere with the system.
If you need a media player that is only available on Packman, install it from Packman and if it wants to bring in some dependencies from Packman allow that as well.
There is nothing wrong with Packman, but it adds complexity to the system and potential sources of trouble, so install what is needed but don’t install what is not needed, but I must admit that advising that to novice users might be time consuming so many of us advise “switch everything to Packman” as a first aid.
Historically “the switch to Packman” was almost always needed, but most relevant patents expiring in the last few years and the openH264 gracefully offered by CISCO have changed the game since a couple of years.
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@hcvv and if/when no Packman? Do you review the Packman sources to ensure they are safe? There are many standalone packages that are not linked to openSUSE, have you ever checked?
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From time to time I think about the question of whether or not to use certain Packman software. Or rather, when zypper dup (Slowroll) complains and asks me if I want to switch repos by 2, 10, or 30 packages. And also with Mesa, as they say here. Do you want to install this Mesa package from the packman repo to replace the openSUSE package? Do you want to install this Mesa package from the openSUSE update repo to replace the Packman one?
It’s not a question of testing a specific package. It’s a question of whether or not it’s necessary (it was necessary years ago).
That is why my question. I use openSUSE since 10.2.
I see it almost every zypper dup 
That makes sense. But then if you stay in oss apps, you could not add Packman, is it?
IMHO Packman is not needed to the same extent as it was now that patents have expired
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I already thought something like that. Thus Flatpak is NOT within the realm of the system manager. It is the user that “installs” software somewhere in his home directory. That is the same as if he has written some program himself and is her/his responsability (as long is the mass-storage usage does not run out of what is reasonable). But I am talking here as the system manager that offers a functioning system, with an amount of installed software. And I can point to above where I explain how, until now, I created a working multi-media environment for my users.
And yes, I admit that I trusted Packman. But not much more.