Once Linux figures out a better way to install apps to other drive without causing the user to figure out complex systems it will start closing the gap.
It’s called a graphical app store. Most distros meant for desktop usage that come with a desktop GUI have a software store. IIRC KDE’s Discover even has Flatpak support which leads to a higher variety of apps.
Otherwise, you can install an AppImage, or just a .deb file if you’re running something Debian-based.
I’ve not once seen a software store app (besides something like steam) ask me where to install stuff. Discover, Software Manager, etc. They all just install stuff, typically from the official repos but maybe from flatpak but none of them actually let you change where to install something.
binaries (executables) go in /usr/bin, flatpaks are installed in their own sandboxes, appimages are wherever you put them.
the shortcuts in application menus go in /usr/share/applications as .desktop files which link to the app, so the user generally won’t have to worry about where the executable is.
why would the app store ask you where to install stuff??
Because a lot of people have multiple drives. I have 2tb of storage across 4 drives. I want to use all of my drives, not just one. This is a very common workflow. Linux has never truly supported it.
Once Linux figures out a better way to install apps to other drive without causing the user to figure out complex systems it will start closing the gap.
It’s called a graphical app store. Most distros meant for desktop usage that come with a desktop GUI have a software store. IIRC KDE’s Discover even has Flatpak support which leads to a higher variety of apps.
Otherwise, you can install an AppImage, or just a .deb file if you’re running something Debian-based.
I’ve not once seen a software store app (besides something like steam) ask me where to install stuff. Discover, Software Manager, etc. They all just install stuff, typically from the official repos but maybe from flatpak but none of them actually let you change where to install something.
binaries (executables) go in
/usr/bin, flatpaks are installed in their own sandboxes, appimages are wherever you put them.the shortcuts in application menus go in
/usr/share/applicationsas .desktop files which link to the app, so the user generally won’t have to worry about where the executable is.why would the app store ask you where to install stuff??
Because a lot of people have multiple drives. I have 2tb of storage across 4 drives. I want to use all of my drives, not just one. This is a very common workflow. Linux has never truly supported it.