Because I hate Electron

  • Max-P@lemmy.max-p.me
    56·
    2 months ago

    Docker, Distrobox, Toybox, systemd-nspawn, chroot.

    Technically those all rely on the same kernel namespace features, just different ways to use it.

    That’s also what Flatpaks and Snaps do. If you only care about package bloat, an AppImage would do too but it’s not a sandbox like Flatpak.

  • flashgnash@lemm.ee
    34·
    2 months ago

    IIRC that’s the whole point of flatpak, snap and appimage

    Docker can probably do it too, distrobox puts a useful wrapper on that

    Nix does that kind of, nix packages aren’t isolated in that they can’t access resources on your system but all dependencies are stored in the nix store, hashed and isolated from eachother, and wiped when you collect garbage

  • nanook@friendica.eskimo.com
    266·
    2 months ago

    Snap turns your system into a slug at boot time, makes it take forever to shut down as it unmounts fifty memory file systems, scatters files all over the place turning a neat organized system into a pile of shit. I primary run Ubuntu, but I excise snap from it as one of the first orders of business.

      • nanook@friendica.eskimo.com
        4·
        2 months ago

        @naeap As long as it remains the easiest distro for me to get from initial setup to mangled the way I want it to work I’ll stick with Ubuntu. It still tends to be more up to date than most other releases save Fedora but I do not care for the Redhat approach at all, they are rather like Windows in trying to force you to do it there way, “thou shall use LDAP and not NIS” for example. I don’t like distros that think I should change my whole organization to suit their needs. Yea at some point I probably will switch to LDAP but will do it on my own terms in my own time not dictated by a distribution vendor. It is rather trivial for me to excise snap from Ubuntu, a lot more work to hack NIS into a system that doesn’t natively support it.

    • ColdWater@lemmy.caOP
      125·
      2 months ago

      Luckily I use Arch (btw) so every Linux apps under the sun already available on the AUR, so I have 0 reason to use Snap/Flatpak

  • StefanT@lemmy.world
    13·
    2 months ago

    Go with one of the ready to use systems. Flatpak, Snap, AppImage. Snap is largely Ubuntu Ecosystem, Flatpak is independent. AppImage is an option if you do not need/want a Sandbox.

    Stay away from Docker and LXC for this use case (graphical applications), they are much more work to get going.

    • zingo@sh.itjust.works
      3·
      2 months ago

      Yes, Docker apps are more appropriate for servers and most apps are “made” to run 24/7 to serv the home or workplace.

      They are very much worth the “work to setup” as they can be transfered/replicated to any system.

      Flatpak and the alike are for running apps on a desktop/laptop.

      • StefanT@lemmy.world
        2·
        2 months ago

        Agreed. My answer was in the assumption that it’s about desktop apps as the OP mentioned Electron.

  • gomp@lemmy.ml
    8·
    2 months ago

    One way or another, if you want to run an application you are gonna need its dependencies (the key is the name)… they may be bundled into an appimage or come as part of flatpak ruintime, or be confined inside a container, or live in the nix store, but they will “bloat” your system anyway.

    Learn how to cleanup your system (ie. uninstall all packages that are not needed by others that have been requested explicitly) and live a happy life. Only bother with other solutions if the software (or version) you need isn’t available for your distro.

  • Samueru@lemmy.ml
    7·
    2 months ago

    You can use appimages, more importantly if you make a directory next to the appimage with the name of the appimage + .home the appimage will also set that as its $HOME that way you can also keep the configuration files of the app separated from the host OS.

    You can also sandbox appimages with aisap.

  • GustavoM@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    2 months ago

    There is always firejail which is very “even your mom can use it” in terms of usage.

    e.g install it, type cd / && sudo firecfg, then your password and thats it.

  • fl42v@lemmy.ml
    3·
    2 months ago

    Both strange and not, tbh. On one hand, I understand the sentiment; on the other hand, installing more software with its own dependencies to isolate electron’s dependencies, and potentially installing twice those libs both electron and something else on your system depend on seems counterproductive (leaving the security benefits of containerization/sandboxing out of the question here, tho).

      • The Bard in Green@lemmy.starlightkel.xyz
        6·
        2 months ago

        Points for the correct answer. I work on systems for spacecraft and podman is what we use on those for containerization (better option for a couple reasons)… but we literally just SAY docker to the suits, because that’s what they’ve heard of. Which is why I said docker to this guy.

    • ColdWater@lemmy.caOP
      31·
      2 months ago

      I heard of docker but I’m not really sure what it is, is it free? is it hard to set everything up? Can my computer handle it?

      • flashgnash@lemm.ee
        6·
        2 months ago

        Docker and podman aren’t too bad nowadays I don’t think assuming you’re not running something huge

        (Podman is another tool that does the same thing as docker)

        Docker and podman containers are basically like throwaway mini-vms that contain one application to ensure it will always run no matter where so long as the machine you’re running them on can run docker

        They can run CLI stuff just fine, I’m not sure about desktop apps someone smarter than me will probably tell you about that

      • WolfLink@sh.itjust.works
        2·
        2 months ago

        FOSS lightweight ”virtual machine” (it’s not quite a VM but it’s similar conceptually. It’s much lighter on your system than a VM).

        Easy to install, setting it up for your use case may take some coding if it isn’t common (bash scripting experience will help).

      • The Bard in Green@lemmy.starlightkel.xyz
        1·
        2 months ago

        Docker and Podman are both free. Podman is the lighter weight, more FOSS, also slightly more DIY option, they are intercompatible - I work on systems for spacecraft and Podman is what we use on those because it’s lighter weight. If you want to run something in docker, ChatGPT is actually pretty good at talking you through the specific setup (at least that’s been my experience).

    • ColdWater@lemmy.caOP
      31·
      2 months ago

      Holy smoke this is it, I can’t believe I’m using Linux for 1 years and still haven’t heard of this software, I’ll give it a shot thanks you very much

  • xavier666@lemm.eeEnglish
    2·
    2 months ago

    It depends on your usecase. We need more detail regarding what application (gui/cui/open source/proprietary/custom) you are trying to use

    • Check if the application you want to use exists as snap/flatpak/appimage.
    • If it exists, install the application as per their standard operating mechansim
    • Once used, just remove them. Your original system libs are untouched

    If the application doesn’t exist in those platforms, it’s a different story. You might need to use distrobox or docker. Don’t use nix because it’s overkill for what you want to do.

  • 0x0@programming.dev
    21·
    2 months ago

    Look into Incus (formerly LXC) containers or the various i’m gonna replace traditional packaging formats like AppImage, FlatPak and what not.

      • ColdWater@lemmy.caOP
        1·
        2 months ago

        I’m only needed to run any apps that has bloat/redundant dependencies so I can remove it anytime I want without screwing up my entire OS ;D

        • treesoid@lemmy.world
          3·
          2 months ago

          Maybe check out nix. It can be installed on any distro and if you install (temporarily but cached) the app trough nix shell you can then just clean the dependencies with nix store gc.