If you use Flatpaks on your Linux computer, then you have used Flathub too; both go hand in hand, serving as a very reliable way of installing new applications.
Whether you're running Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch Linux, or really any other distribution, you can confidently rely on Flathub to deliver apps that work seamlessly without much fuss.
Recently, Brage Fuglseth of the GNOME Foundation posted on Reddit demonstrating that there is now a new section on Flathub that highlights mobile-friendly apps.
Let’s take a closer look! 🤓
Flathub Warms Up To Mobile Users
You will find the new mobile section on Flathub if you scroll down a bit.
Called “On the go,” the new section on Flathub serves as a dedicated space for apps designed specifically for Linux mobile devices and tablets. It streamlines the process for users, enabling them to effortlessly discover mobile-friendly applications without having to manually search for them.
When a Redditor pointed out that only GNOME apps were being highlighted on the banner for the new section, Brage responded by saying:
The collection is populated programmatically based on app metadata. Pretty sure the 6 "featured" ones have been selected at random, the pool of mobile GNOME apps is just so much bigger than any other group. If there's a mobile app that's not listed in the category at all, it needs to have its hardware support metadata properly filled in.
Do keep in mind that he is not directly involved in the development of Flathub, but what he said does make sense. GNOME apps do dominate the Linux mobile app space, so it is natural that those apps would show up more than the others if that banner is being populated randomly.
Clicking the “More mobile apps” button on the banner takes you to a well-organized list of apps that lays out the various apps. Though, I think introducing options for sorting/filtering the list would make navigation quicker and more intuitive.
That said, overall, I like what the Flathub team has done. This ensures that users of mobile Linux distributions like postmarketOS, GrapheneOS, Plasma Mobile, etc. can easily find apps that have been tailored for mobile use.
Sourav Rudra
