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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Automated installation of multiple applications after a fresh OS install? (Fedora) (lemmy.ml)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Hi all,

I am about to do a bit of a distro hop, and I am looking at Fedora and its spins, after years on Debian / POP.

I am not looking forward to setting it all up again, it's a drag.

I wonder, is there a tool that lets me script installs?

I'll want to check if application exists, and if so, update, otherwise, install. That kind of thing.

Things like:

Telegram
Joplin
Docker
Firefox
Ungoogle Chromium
Sublime Text
VSCodium
Keepass
Thunderbird
DBeaver
Gimp
Inkscape
KDENLive
Syncthing
Steam
VLC
Localsend
Flameshot
Element
Cherrytree
Calibre
Anydesk

I show the list, only to give an idea of what might be involved.

I'm new to Fedora, so not sure how it differs beyond the package manager. But, thought I'd ask.

Does such a tool exist, and is it worth my time? I can practice on a VM before trying on the final install/s.

Thank you

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Hmmm very interesting thanks for the links and explanation!

I'm not "ready" for it yet so I've bookmarked all that (by adding a file in ~/Apps ;) but that's definitely and interesting, and arguably neater solution.

Honestly I try to stick to the distribution package manager as much as I can (apt on Debian stable) but sometimes it's impossible. Getting binaries myself feels a bit "wrong" but usually works. Some, like yt-dlp as I see in your list, do have their own update mechanisms. Interesting to consider stepping back and consider the trade off. Anyway now thanks to you I know there are solutions for a middle ground!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Also this is a good way to re-consider integration back, e.g. generating .desktop files for /.local/share/applications/ when using KDE rather than having to manually do it each time.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

This is already done automatically.

AM puts the .desktop files in /usr/local/share/applications

AppMan puts them in ${XDG_DATA_HOME:-~/.local/share}applications

They also get symlinked in PATH, that is you can launch yt-dlp by typing yt-dlp on the terminal as if you had installed it with your distro package manager.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Ah! Wonderful. I'm always a bit reluctant with system-wide install so I'll put AM on hold for now but probably tinker with AppMan/dbin soon.

Out of curiosity, one of the app I'd usually get outside my package manager is Chromium. I'd usually download the latest build from https://download-chromium.appspot.com/ so in this situation, how would you do it using any of those solutions? Would it support adding extensions e.g https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/immersive-web-emulator/cgffilbpcibhmcfbgggfhfolhkfbhmik that I need for development?

PS: note to self, go through bash history to see which failed apt install attempts could be replaced with such tools.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

It pulls the latest chromium from googleapis.com so it can do everything.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Very cool, sincere thank you for the clarification and even on-boarding process. Installed this way, feels quite efficient. Will dig a big deeper while using them more.