Why are Flatpak apps like Krita so much larger than their sizes on the official website?
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TechWiz77
I recently switched to Linux Mint and was checking out some apps in the app manager. I noticed that Krita is around 1.2GB in the app manager, while on the official website, it's only about 0.3GB. This also seems to be the case for other apps like Telegram. Can anyone explain why there's such a big difference? Also, what exactly is a Flatpak?
Answers
The larger size you see for Flatpak apps usually comes down to the dependencies they include. Flatpaks are designed to package all the necessary libraries and resources alongside the app, which helps avoid compatibility issues with different systems. So, while the app itself might be smaller on the website, the Flatpak version sometimes bundles a lot of extra stuff, leading to that much bigger file size.
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For a deeper dive, check out that Wikipedia article on Flatpak. It covers all the basics and gives you a clearer picture of how these apps work under the hood.
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Yeah, it's definitely tied to how Flatpak works. While traditional installations often use shared resources, Flatpaks package what they need within themselves to ensure everything runs smoothly anywhere. This might seem wasteful in terms of space, but it can keep applications secure and isolated from one another, preventing one from causing problems for others.
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If you're looking for a smaller footprint, consider downloading the AppImage directly from the official site. It's more straightforward and won't bloat your installation like Flatpak can. If you go this route, check out "GearLever" from Flathub for easy app management and desktop integration.
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