I'm trying to install a Flatpak using a flatpakref file and keep running into an authorization error: 'authorization error: the name org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1 was not provided by any .service files'. From what I've read, I might need to install the policykit1 package, which seems to handle communications between non-privileged and privileged services. As a newbie, I'm a bit worried this could be a security issue. Is policykit1 safe? What's the best way to verify its safety without just relying on random opinions online? Also, is there a reliable and straightforward source for learning about this kind of stuff? Lastly, I'm confused about why I'm having to install this manually when Flatpaks are supposed to include all necessary dependencies. Can someone explain?
3 Answers
If you’re worried about security, there’s no surefire way to feel safe without checking the source code yourself. It’s always a bit risky taking just anyone's word on the internet. You might want to check out some trusted open source communities or similar forums for more detailed discussions on policykit1 and its safety. It's always a good idea to read official documentation as well; it can give you a clearer picture.
You're right that Flatpaks usually bring their own dependencies, but they don’t include everything needed for system integration. They rely on your distro to provide components like Polkit. If you're missing that, it's worth looking into your distro's documentation to find any packages to install that will make Flatpak work smoothly. It can be straightforward to get everything set up if you follow the guides for your specific environment.
Polkit is just a way to manage which users can perform certain privileged tasks, so whether it's safe really depends on how it's configured. Most default setups will let your user install Flatpaks without any issues. It’s worth checking which distro you're using, as Polkit should usually be part of the standard installations on most desktop distros. But Flatpak needs some of these components outside its own packages, like Polkit, for integration with your system.
Is it different for various distros? I'm testing AntiX, a lightweight option. Should that affect Polkit's operation?
But who decides the configuration? Is it just me if I'm the only user? Or can apps change settings? I'm really not planning to touch any defaults.