KDE "DISCOVER" App on Mageia Linux -- INSTALLATION TUTORIAL

[marcpare]

Do you have a need for a software title that does not appear on the Mageia repositories list (MCC-->Software Management-->Install & Remove Software)? Such as the Google Chrome app? Or ...
The KDE/Plasma project offers a solution to this with their "Discover" flatpak GUI app installer. This app is available for installation on the MCC repositories.

TUTORIAL
To install and set up the Discover app, do the following:
* Go to the MCC (Mageia Control Centre) --> Software Management --> Install & Remove Software section.
* In the search field put "discover".
* The MCC will return a list of apps that contain the word "discover".
* Choose "discover" (KDE and Plasma resources management GUI).
* Click on the "Apply" button on the bottom of the MCC window.
* Click on OK to complete the installation of "Discover".
* Once the installation is completed, close the MCC window as you no longer need it for the next steps.

* Click on the bottom-left-hand taskbard Start button and go to "Tools --> System Tools --> Discover".
* Discover will start for the first time.

You will now need to complete the Discover setup.
* Click on the bottom menu item "Settings".
* Choose the item where it says to "Install Flathub - dl.flathum.org".
* Then, *** COMPLETE THIS IMPORTANT STEP *** -- UNCHECK every other category on the remaining list items. This should leave the only checked category of "Flathub - dl.flathum.org" on the whole list.
* you will now have installed and completed the Discover "flatpak" setup.

To install flatpak Discover apps:
* In the Discover app, click on the bottom menu item "Home".
* In the search field (at the top of that window), type in the software app that you would like to install.
** For the purposes of this tutorial, we will use the "Google Chrome" app.
* Type "Chrome" in the search field and do a keyboard "Return".
* You will now see the Google Chrome app that is not found/supported in the MCC repositories.
* Click on "Install" on the "Google Chrome" selection.
* Discover will then install the flatpak Chrome app
* At some point, Discover may/will ask you for the root password to complete the installation process.
* Once the Chrome app is installed you will now see that the "Install" button now shows "Remove", which, you may use later if you wish to remove the app.
* You will now find the "Chrome" browse somewhere in your Start-button (lower-left-hand bottom taskbar) -- > Internet -- > More.

The same process of installing other flatpak apps will follow the same procedure.

A note on the Discover repositories and upkeep/updates.
The KDE/Plasma project developers maintain the Discover app updates and, from my experience, do a good job of keeping the app versions current. Discover will, from time to time, notify you of needed updates with a notification button-icon on the bottom-right-hand side of your bottom taskbar. Make sure to complete these updates as soon as possible for the sake of keeping you apps as up to date as possible. A reminder that you should also complete any MCC update notifications when they come up on your bottom taskbar as well.

Notes of importance/warnings.
If you would like to use Discover along with the MCC, make sure that you complete the Discover setup as mentioned above and leave the only checked category of "Flathub - dl.flathum.org" on the whole list just as detailed above. OTHERWISE, both of the MCC and Discover will suggest updates to your Mageia system that may conflict with each other. This author suggests to continue to use the MCC as your main package and update app, and use the Discover app to install only those packages that are not found on the MCC app lists.
I have used the combination of the MCC and Discover systems on a couple of computers for the past many months without any issues.

*NOTE that this tutorial is meant for a Mageia installation and, although the Discover app may be installed on other Linux flavours, this author does not accept any responsibility for any installation of Discover on any other distros.
*NOTE that, as per usual, the installation of Discover should only be done on, in this case, a Mageia system that has been well backed up, and, also with fully updated through the MCC GUI.
*NOTE that this author presents this tutorial purposely through the GUI version of the MCC and Discover with no mention of any use of any console.
*NOTE that this author does not accept responsibility for any issues brought on by this installation, use at your own risk.

Leave a comment should you need any help with tutorial trouble-shooting, more information on this tutorial, etc.
Marc Paré
Editor, https://www.facebook.com/librecanada/

[morgano]

Nice

If you like, you can integrate this as a section in https://wiki.mageia.org/en/Flatpak

And of course you are welcome to adjust anything you see fit.
(I was the main author of the page but I am no Flatpak expert)