Feature request: Support Flatpak / Snap / linux 'app store' distribution

[mrjohnc]

Adding Slic3r Prusa Edition to Gnome software would make it easier to install and keep up to date on Linux distributions using Gnome (which many of the most popular Linux distros use)

https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Software

[bubnikv]

Slic3r is written using wxWidgets toolkit over GTK2 (or GTK3), so it is officially not a Gnome application. Also there is a Slic3r PE package for Debian, Ubuntu and likely other distros, so if you don't like the AppImage format we provide, you can likely install Slic3r PE from your distro, though it will likely be a bit older version.

Now I don't understand the request. Why should there by a Gnome app repository, if the distribution model for applications on Linux is the distro?

Maybe @vojtechkral has an idea?

[mrjohnc]

Sorry I'm not explaining very well, basically I want to be able to install Prusa Slic3r from the sofware centre thing that comes in Ubuntu (like you can do with Cura). Whilst I know how to install the software in the other ways it would lower the barrier to others to be able to do this and would allow people to keep it up to date easily.

[vojtechkral]

Ubuntu Software Center is discontinued. Gnome Software is active, but it is, as far as I know, more or less just a frontend to distro package managers. So basically better package presence would be likely needed.

[grigorig]

I think what OP might really mean is that Slic3r PE should use a standard distribution mechanism, such as Snap or Flatpak that is portable and independent from a specific distribution. Sort of like AppImage, but more suitable for the "app store" use case and with better security/isolation.

[mrjohnc]

@grigorig yes this is exactly what I meant, thanks very much

[mrjohnc]

@bubnikv feel free to rename to how @grigorig explains

[mrjohnc]

Coupled with this it would be really great to have the software know when it needs updating and be able to update with pressing a button. I've see a lot of software in Flatpack and the Ubuntu Software appstore get behind current versions, and this is a way around the issue

[probonopd]

What would be needed is a Plugin for GNOME Software to manage applications in the AppImage format. I had started writing this some time ago but lost interest in it (since I lost interest in GNOME), anyone is free to pick it up and revive it: https://gitlab.com/probono/gs-plugin-appimage

[grigorig]

Maybe a Flatpak would be a good idea at this point? I'm not sure if that would be a lot of work, probably not. It might even be possible to just package the AppImage inside a Flatpak.

[xarbit]

Just came across this ticket while looking if PrusaSlicer exist as Flatpak. Well, I guess not..
I am willing to do this task and Ill create project for it and if prusa wants, then you can simply take over it any time. :-)

[xarbit]

@bubnikv you can add me as the volunteer for this task :)