In the openSUSE forums we see a lot of help requests for issues that are 100% related to the use of packages from (multiple) repositories that do not belong to the install media and preconfigured repos. Things like software.opensuse.org and opi are open invitations to get a user into such issues. But there is not only that …
The home:/$USER repos
The recent malware infections of Arch’s AUR have made the danger of that kind of practices very clear. And let me enlighten you all: The home:$USER repos are no better than the AUR. The difference is only that Arch depends on the AUR, where openSUSE has the home: → devel → Factory route and only what passes the various reviews gets in Factory and after openQA testing ends up in the distros. But the packages from the home:/$USER repos lack those reviews and testing. The devs in those repos use it as a private playground for packages where they are free to change and break whatever they want ( within the rules and limits of OBS ).
Conclusion: Using home:/$USER repos == exposing your system to broken software and potential malware attacks.
Flatpaks
Too often I hear: “I want openSUSE packages, I don’t want/like flatpaks”. My counter question “What makes you not want/like flatpaks?” mostly remains unanswered, OK some “Just don’t like them” but no real argument.
Well, let me enlighten you: packages from home:/$USER repos are not ( yet ) openSUSE packages.
Flatpaks
live isolated, are not part of the host system ( sanboxed )
cannot touch the host system ( unless explicitly given permission )
come with their own codecs
can ( and IMHO should ) be installed in the user’s home directory
are being tested, reviewed and some Q&A is done as well.
can be dealt with through GNOME Software, KDE Discover
The choice you have
Get over your prejudice against flatpaks, use them and be fine
Keep strugling wih repos, broken packages, package conflicts and a potentially compromised system.
I picked the first choice about four years ago and live with just these repos
knurpht@Lenovo-P16:~/.local/bin> flatpak list
Naam Toepassings-ID Versie Branch Installatie
Easy Effects com.github.wwmm.easyeffects 8.2.5 stable user
Whatsie com.ktechpit.whatsie 5.1.0 stable user
OBS Studio com.obsproject.Studio 32.1.2 stable user
RustDesk com.rustdesk.RustDesk 1.4.8 stable user
Bottles com.usebottles.bottles 64.1 stable user
HandBrake fr.handbrake.ghb 1.11.1 stable user
Cameractrls hu.irl.cameractrls 0.6.10 stable user
Element im.riot.Riot 1.12.20 stable user
SMPlayer info.smplayer.SMPlayer 25.6.0 stable user
coppwr io.github.dimtpap.coppwr 1.7.1 stable user
Packet io.github.nozwock.Packet 0.6.1 stable user
Webcamoid io.github.webcamoid.Webcamoid 9.3.0 stable user
LibreWolf io.gitlab.librewolf-community 152.0.2-1 stable user
Ardour org.ardour.Ardour 9.7.0 stable user
FreeCAD org.freecad.FreeCAD 1.1.1 stable user
Calf org.freedesktop.LinuxAudio.Plugins.Calf 0.90.9 25.08 user
LSP org.freedesktop.LinuxAudio.Plugins.LSP 1.2.33 25.08 user
MDA org.freedesktop.LinuxAudio.Plugins.MDA 1.2.12 25.08 user
TAP-plugins org.freedesktop.LinuxAudio.Plugins.TAP 1.0.1 24.08 user
TAP-plugins org.freedesktop.LinuxAudio.Plugins.TAP 1.0.1 25.08 user
ZamPlugins org.freedesktop.LinuxAudio.Plugins.ZamPlugins 4.5 25.08 user
SWH org.freedesktop.LinuxAudio.Plugins.swh 0.4.17 24.08 user
SWH org.freedesktop.LinuxAudio.Plugins.swh 0.4.17 25.08 user
x42Plugins org.freedesktop.LinuxAudio.Plugins.x42Plugins 2026.04.20 25.08 user
Freedesktop Platform org.freedesktop.Platform freedesktop-sdk-25.08.13 25.08 user
i386 org.freedesktop.Platform.Compat.i386 25.08 user
Mesa org.freedesktop.Platform.GL.default 26.0.6 24.08 user
Mesa (Extra) org.freedesktop.Platform.GL.default 26.0.6 24.08extra user
Mesa org.freedesktop.Platform.GL.default 26.0.8 25.08 user
Mesa (Extra) org.freedesktop.Platform.GL.default 26.0.8 25.08-extra user
Mesa org.freedesktop.Platform.GL32.default 26.0.8 25.08 user
Mesa (Extra) org.freedesktop.Platform.GL32.default 26.0.8 25.08-extra user
Codecs Extra Extension org.freedesktop.Platform.codecs-extra 25.08-extra user
i386 org.freedesktop.Platform.codecs_extra.i386 25.08-extra user
openh264 org.freedesktop.Platform.openh264 2.5.1 2.5.1 user
Fractal org.gnome.Fractal 14 stable user
GNOME Application Platform version 49 org.gnome.Platform 49 user
GNOME Application Platform version 50 org.gnome.Platform 50 user
Jitsi Meet org.jitsi.jitsi-meet 2026.6.0 stable user
Adwaita theme org.kde.KStyle.Adwaita 5.15-24.08 user
Adwaita theme org.kde.KStyle.Adwaita 5.15-25.08 user
Adwaita theme org.kde.KStyle.Adwaita 6.10 user
Adwaita theme org.kde.KStyle.Adwaita 6.9 user
KDE Application Platform org.kde.Platform 5.15-24.08 user
KDE Application Platform org.kde.Platform 5.15-25.08 user
KDE Application Platform org.kde.Platform 6.10 user
KDE Application Platform org.kde.Platform 6.9 user
QGnomePlatform org.kde.PlatformTheme.QGnomePlatform 5.15-24.08 user
QAdwaitaDecorations org.kde.WaylandDecoration.QAdwaitaDecorations 5.15-24.08 user
QAdwaitaDecorations org.kde.WaylandDecoration.QAdwaitaDecorations 5.15-25.08 user
Amarok org.kde.amarok 3.3.3 stable user
Calligra org.kde.calligra 26.04.2 stable user
Kdenlive org.kde.kdenlive 26.04.2 stable user
LocalSend org.localsend.localsend_app 1.17.0 stable user
PhotoQt org.photoqt.PhotoQt 5.4 stable user
Signal Desktop org.signal.Signal 8.16.0 stable user
Telegram org.telegram.desktop 6.9.3 stable user
VLC org.videolan.VLC 3.0.23 stable user
gecko org.winehq.Wine.gecko stable-25.08 user
mono org.winehq.Wine.mono stable-25.08 user
knurpht@Lenovo-P16:~/.local/bin>
I just wanted to add that at least for my use case, flatpaks allow me to get around Packman and/or the VLC repo.
I used to install the multimedia codecs from Packman or VLC-repo.
I figured the only apps that I really need it for are Firefox, VLC and yt-dlp. For all three of those there are flatpak versions available.
This saves me the trouble with version sync issues that popped up maybe once a year between packman and the oss-repo on Tumbleweed.
I agree with the sentiments. However, at present gnumeric is not available in any repo or as a flatpak for Leap 16 even though both were available for Leap 15.6. So I can understand the temptation to go elsewhere - which I have resisted.
flatpak search gnumeric
Name Description Application ID Version Branch Remotes
The Gnumeric Spreadsheet A High-Precision Spreadsheet Program org.gnumeric.Gnumeric 1.12.61 stable flathub
Thank you. However, when entering those commands and trying to download gnumeric directly, I got an error message. So I tried the suggested alternative which used Discover but Discover also gave me an error message.
I had not previously tried to install gnumeric via the CLI because I assumed that, as it was not in Leap 16.0 Discover, that would not work. However, having got this far, I decided to try that and it did work.
I do use flatpak apps and agree with points in the first post, but there are a few issues like :
inconsistent theming
for people like me using older machines (Sandy bridge), no hardware video decoding due to mesa packaging for flatpak… I know it’s an edge case but still painful
Hello. I’ve recently started using Flatpaks on Tumbleweed, and occasions this has been because of issues I’ve had with the package from the official repository – for example, Firefox recently stopped working for me, so I’m using the Flatpak version instead, and it’s working very well.
I think you’re right about the main reasons for using Flatpak. I think from now on I’ll be using the Flatpak version of the programmes I use most often.
Best regards
I consider both minor ( even “not real” ) issues. To kill 2 flies in one smash: People with that kind of hardware are used to see a mix of Qt and GTK ( 3 + 4 ) window decorations ( f.e. Firefox on KDE ). There is no pain to that, you are not hurt,
Oh dear, oh dear, where on earth should I start?
Suffice to say that Steam, which is suggested time and again, is available on Flathub from an uncertified source.
Packages require considerably more storage space.
Many programmes won’t run without elevated privileges. Libraries and the like appear multiple times. The same goes for Wind***. You have to trust that the packages within a software bundle are always up to date. But they aren’t.
I find more programmes in the official repositories that don’t work or are out of date than in the home repositories. You don’t have to install everything, either. And you do check things out beforehand, too. And you can always get in touch with me, at least, if something doesn’t work.
And comparing Arch with home doesn’t really hold water either.
In my opinion, they just want to offload or cut back on responsibility, work and, consequently, jobs.
With Flathub, they’re taking the easy way out.
The Steam FlatPak is not officially produced by Valve. Of course, neither is the rpm that is in the OSS repo. Valve only produces a deb package. Everyone else is repackaging that.
Flathub is no more an uncertified source as basically every distributions repositories.
If you visit the Flathub website, it says ‘unverified’ next to Steam.
And I interpret ‘your’ statement differently. Steam was developed by Valve, of course, but the package on GitHub was created by someone else. So you can tinker with the code
Different, yes, but in this case the philosophy is the same.
No, it doesn’t.
I have to register in obs.
As far as I know, not in Arch.
Why?
That’s my opinion.
For one thing, based on experience, albeit not personal experience.
And secondly, you only have to look at the economy to see what’s happening everywhere at the moment.
Naturally, I use my own repository myself. And everything works fine there, except when I write it down.
The first error message was from the browser which suggested I try again. I didn’t; I tried the alternative which called Discover which said there was a user error but nothing about what the error was.
flatpak remotes returns:
flathub system
Previously none of my Internet searches had led to the answer your suggestion gave; so I had never thought of attempting a command line install. Once done, all was sorted. Thank you.
For Steam, I had success running it from Distrobox, I don’t install unverified flatpaks either (and in fact I can’t, as the first action I take on a new system is to setup the flathub repo with the —user and —subset=verified flags anyway).
I also tried Firefox in a Distrobox with the codecs set up in the third party repo there and that also appeared to work well.
