Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Flatpak VS McBrew

Compare Flatpak VS McBrew and see what are their differences

Flatpak logo Flatpak

Flatpak is the new framework for desktop applications on Linux

McBrew logo McBrew

A fast GUI for Homebrew written in SwiftUI.
  • Flatpak Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-06
  • McBrew Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-05-04

Flatpak features and specs

  • Cross-distribution support
    Flatpak applications can be installed on any Linux distribution, which helps in resolving compatibility issues.
  • Sandboxing
    Flatpak apps run in a sandbox, which isolates them from the system and other applications, thereby enhancing security.
  • Dependency management
    Flatpak handles dependencies internally, allowing different applications to use different versions of the same library without conflicts.
  • Bleeding-edge software
    Flatpak allows users to access the latest versions of applications, even if their Linux distribution's repository is not up-to-date.
  • Backward compatibility
    Flatpak apps can run on older systems because Flatpak includes the required runtime libraries.

Possible disadvantages of Flatpak

  • Disk space usage
    Flatpak applications may use more disk space because runtimes and libraries are bundled separately for each app.
  • Performance overhead
    The sandboxing and isolation can introduce a performance penalty compared to natively installed applications.
  • Limited integration
    Flatpak applications may not fully integrate with the host system, leading to inconsistencies in look and feel.
  • Update lag
    Flatpak uses a central repository for updates, which can sometimes result in delays in getting the latest versions of applications.
  • Learning curve
    New users might find it challenging to understand and use Flatpak, especially if they are accustomed to traditional package managers.

McBrew features and specs

  • Open Source
    McBrew is hosted on GitHub, making its source code open for public use, inspection, and contribution.
  • Community Involvement
    Being an open-source project, it allows and encourages contributions from developers worldwide, fostering collaboration and innovation.
  • Cost-effective
    McBrew can be used without any licensing fees, reducing overall costs for users who need a solution offered by the project.
  • Customization
    Users can modify the code to fit their needs, adding new features or tweaking existing ones to better suit their use cases.
  • Continuous Updates
    Open-source projects typically receive regular updates and improvements from the community or project maintainers.

Possible disadvantages of McBrew

  • Lack of Official Support
    Being an open-source project, McBrew may lack comprehensive official support or dedicated customer service teams.
  • Varying Quality of Contributions
    Contributions from a wide range of developers might lead to inconsistent code quality and documentation.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Users might experience compatibility issues with other software or systems as the project evolves over time.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Users may need a deeper understanding of the project's codebase and dependencies to effectively leverage and contribute to it.
  • Security Risks
    Open-source projects could be vulnerable if dependencies or contributions are not adequately vetted for security risks.

Analysis of Flatpak

Overall verdict

  • Flatpak is generally regarded as a positive option for software distribution on Linux, particularly for those seeking a cross-distribution solution that ensures application stability and security.

Why this product is good

  • Flatpak is considered good due to its ability to provide application sandboxing, which enhances security by isolating applications from the rest of the system. It also ensures consistent behavior across different Linux distributions by packaging all dependencies with the applications. Furthermore, Flatpak enables easy updates and rollback of applications, making it convenient for both developers and users.

Recommended for

  • Users who want access to the latest software versions
  • Developers looking for a unified application distribution method
  • Users of multiple Linux distributions who want consistent application behavior
  • Those who prioritize security and isolation of applications.

Flatpak videos

How to Use Flatpak

More videos:

  • Review - [2018] LINUX - FLATPAK REVIEW and SETUP
  • Review - Matador FlatPak Toiletry Bottle Review | TSA Approved | Small Travel Container & Liquid Soap Holder

McBrew videos

Burger Review - Stuey McBrew's

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Flatpak and McBrew)
Front End Package Manager
Windows Tools
65 65%
35% 35
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Package Manager
64 64%
36% 36

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Flatpak seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 85 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Flatpak mentions (85)

  • How to Flatpack Programs [video]
    It's hard to tell if he is referring to Flatpak: https://flatpak.org/ or if the nomenclature is a coincidence. However, from what I can tell, the presenter is talking about similar things. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Tools for Linux Distro Hoppers
    Hopping from one distro to another with a different package manager might require some time to adapt. Using a package manager that can be installed on most distro is one way to help you get to work faster. Flatpak is one of them; other alternative are Snap, Nix or Homebrew. Flatpak is a good starter, and if you have a bunch of free time, I suggest trying Nix. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • I cannot get flatpak to find anything on a fresh Debian12 install
    The repository that I used is the official one from flathub.org, I literally typed:. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Modern CSV version 2 is now available
    It shouldn't be too complicated to create a package from the provided tarball. [1]: https://flatpak.org/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Flutter 3 on Devuan 4: Getting started
    Besides, there may be other ways to install them, although there doesn't seem no such Flatpak packages in Flathub. For example, some senerio to use some release channel or Docker / Podman. Additionally, when you use a different Linux distro where systemd is adopted and therefore can do Snaps (Snapd), you have another possibility. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
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McBrew mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of McBrew yet. Tracking of McBrew recommendations started around May 2024.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Flatpak and McBrew, you can also consider the following products

Snapcraft - Snaps are software packages that are simple to create and install.

Homebrew - The missing package manager for macOS

FLATHUB - Apps for Linux, right here

NixOS - 25 Jun 2014 . All software components in NixOS are installed using the Nix package manager. Packages in Nix are defined using the nix language to create nix expressions.

pacman (package manager) - The pacman package manager is one of the major distinguishing features of ...

AppImageKit - Linux apps that run anywhere