I'm using Fedora with the Gnome Desktop environment and I've successfully installed apps like TOR and Mullvad, which work well and show up in the app launcher. However, I downloaded Thunderbird directly from the website instead of using the Software app because it only offered the ESR version, which is outdated and had issues before the latest update. I now have Thunderbird in a folder but I'm not sure what to do next. TOR came with a .desktop file, which allowed me to register it in the app launcher using a command. Do I need to create a .desktop file manually for Thunderbird? Also, I have a similar issue with the Syncthing app. I want it to run on startup but downloaded it directly from their website. While I have the Gnome Tweaks app to manage startup programs, Syncthing doesn't appear in the list because it's not recognized as an app. I tried to install it with dnf, but the version there is outdated as well. It's frustrating because while installing apps via the Software app is straightforward, going outside of it feels complicated and difficult!
2 Answers
It really depends on the app. Many are available as Flatpaks or Snaps, which you can install using their respective stores. For others, you'll typically find installation instructions on the app's website. Just be ready to download the correct format, whether it's a .deb, .rpm, or AppImage.
I haven't tried Syncthing myself, but I recommend checking out their official documentation for setting it up on Linux. As for Thunderbird, can you share what's wrong with the version you're using now? You mentioned an update fixed the startup crash, right?
I find it frustrating that while there are alternate ways to install, it shouldn't be so convoluted! I just want things to work without digging through documentation for hours.