Implement sideloading of external resources
There are several ways of sideloading / adding new external sources / applications in Flatpak. This includes following types:
- Flatpak Repositories (
.flatpakrepo
files) - Flatpak applications
- Flatpak bundles (
.flatpak
files)- The application itself is already included in the bundle file
- No additional download of application needed
- A repository may be included for further updates of the application
- Flatpak Ref (
.flatpakref
files)- Describes a remote application and the remote repository of the application
- Download of application is needed
- Adds repository if not added yet
- Example: https://dl.flathub.org/repo/appstream/com.spotify.Client.flatpakref
- Flatpak bundles (
Notes
From design POV I think it's better to have a small dialog window for adding "external" resources, and not the main app window, to communicate to the user the message "hey - this is something external, which isn't included in your trusted appstore".
Relevant art
Windows 10
Elementary OS
Edited by Tobias Bernard