Installing Software
RakuOS gives you several ways to install software. Pick the one that fits:
| Way | Best for | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| Software Center | most people, most apps | packages, Flatpaks, AppImages and web apps, from one place |
| rum | RPM packages from the terminal | added on top of the system, live right away |
| Flatpak | desktop apps from Flathub | separate from the system, sandboxed |
| Local RPM files | a vendor's .rpm download | added on top of the system |
| AppImage | single-file apps | your home folder |
| Distrobox | developer tools, other distributions' packages | a container in your home folder |
How it fits together: the RakuOS system is a read-only image that updates as a whole. RPM packages you install (with rum or the Software Center) go into a layer on top of it, called the overlay, and RakuOS reinstalls them for you when the system needs it. That's why rpm-ostree isn't used and dnf is really rum.
A few things not to do on RakuOS, because they break this setup:
- Don't install packages with
rpm -ior remove them withrpm -e. Usesudo rum install/sudo rum remove. - Don't run installers that copy files into
/usrby hand (make install,curl … | sh). Use Flatpak, Distrobox, your home folder or/usr/localinstead. - Don't install
akmod-*ordkms-*driver packages: see Drivers.
Software Center
Add/Remove Software: apps, Flatpaks, AppImages, web apps and updates.
Installing Packages with rum
rum install, remove, search and friends.
Flatpaks
Sandboxed desktop apps from Flathub.
Local RPM Files
Installing a .rpm file you downloaded.
AppImages
Single-file apps you download and run, and how the Software Center keeps them updated.
Distrobox
Other distributions' packages and developer tools in a container.
Repositories
RPM Fusion, Terra, COPR and other repositories.