I'd love it if bleachbit were installable through a flatpak

[sashinexists]

I am using Fedora Silverblue and using flatpak to install software is pretty much the only way you should be installing it. I used to use bleachbit on ubuntu and really miss it!

[dngray]

I came here to post exactly this. I'm hoping @az0 might have time to look into this. Installing RPMs outside rpm-ostree kinda sucks because those overlayed rpms do not get automatically updated.

The documentation is pretty easy https://docs.flatpak.org/en/latest/first-build.html

I'm thinking perhaps org.xfce.mousepad.yml might be a good example to take a look at, in developing a Bleachbit flatpak.

[abitrolly]

@dngray what is the security model of Flatpak? BleachBit will be of no use if it will run in isolated environment with no access to files from other programs.

[dngray]

For immutable operating systems it's more about convenience. Basically with OSes like https://silverblue.fedoraproject.org you've got an immutable ostree image that is updated, (it includes the basics gnome etc).

It's then intended that you use flatpaks and containers (toolbox). You might overlay "some" RPMs, but ideally not too many. Here's a video that demonstrates how it works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hpV5l-gJnQ

[abitrolly]

@dngray can't watch videos right now, and still don't get if BleachBit will have access to other app files if it is installed through a Flatpak.

[dngray]

still don't get if BleachBit will have access to other app files if it is installed through a Flatpak

It's okay if it has --filesystem=home. Normally one would try to "limit permissions" but for a piece of software like Bleachbit that has to clean things in a lot of places that's okay.

if you're running it as root it will need --filesystem=host, and that's still okay, because it fits within what Bleachbit does.

The reason for having it as a flatpak, is because that can be installed in a user's home directory. Distributions like Silverblue have an immutable system image which "packages are layered on top". It's best to avoid doing this if possible, and about the only time you should be layering packages is if they are system components (eg a window manager etc).

Otherwise it's best to install them in a container (which bleachbit could), but as Bleachbit is a GUI application, a nice flatpak makes more sense.

[abitrolly]

@dngray not sure I've got a the problem with immutable ostree image right. BleachBit as a traditional RPM from https://www.bleachbit.org/download/linux can not be installed, is that it?

[dngray]

It's explained more here https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/fedora-silverblue/getting-started/#package-layering

Basically a flatpak would be the easiest way for users, although a toolbox container certainly works, but would require them to set that up themselves.

Generally you want to avoid overlaying random things onto your host if you can avoid it.