Add a flatpak package

[sigmaSd]

I was not a recommender of flatpak, but recently I've been using fedora, and through gnome software I keep discovering really cool projects.

I think creating a fltapk have 2 major benefits:

• It can be published to flathub and it will be become discoverable in stores like gnome software of flathub it self
• It removes the need to use sudo, and enter password, because we can package a policy kit rule with it ?

with the other benefits of working on more distributions not worrying about older libraries etc

If this is desirable, https://github.com/flathub/com.helix_editor.Helix/blob/master/com.helix_editor.Helix.yml is a good starting place

[cyqsimon]

To be honest, I have zero experience with Flatpak packaging. I'm not opposed to the idea though - although I personally don't use Flatpak, I can well understand its appeal.

TBH I'm a bit intoxicated at the moment of this reply, so I am not able to make any commitments. There is one thing I would like to ask though: would you @sigmaSd like to be added as a collaborator? That would add a bit more resilience to this project (I'm perfectly okay if your reply is no, so please don't feel pressured).

[sigmaSd]

Thanks @cyqsimon that would be great, I currently can't allocate much time, but I can see myself helping with smaller things and I guess its not bad to have another pair of eyes for PRs issues etc.

Also I'll give this issue a try, shouldn't be that hard (hopefully)

Get Well soon!

[sigmaSd]

Unfortunately this doesn't seem feasible because the flatpak sandbox doesn't allow listening to the network privileges (the ones set with setcap) More info here https://github.com/flathub/org.wireshark.Wireshark/issues/4

[cyqsimon]

Thanks @cyqsimon that would be great, I currently can't allocate much time, but I can see myself helping with smaller things and I guess its not bad to have another pair of eyes for PRs issues etc.

@imsnif can you please make @sigmaSd a collaborator? They've been contributing to this repo for far longer than I have been, and are more than qualified for this job. I would love to have more hands on deck. Thanks in advance.

[imsnif]

Done

[sigmaSd]

Thanks appreciated

[sigmaSd]

Flatpak package is possible , if the app is separated to a frontend and a privileged backed (this issue basically https://github.com/imsnif/bandwhich/issues/76)

the flatpak package would do:

• copy the backend to XDG_DATA_DIR (accessible from faltapk)
• use flatpak-spawn --host pkexec backend

there are some packages in flathub that use flatpak-spawn --host pkexec like https://gitlab.gnome.org/World/bustle/

[cyqsimon]

Flatpak package is possible , if the app is separated to a frontend and a privileged backed (this issue basically #76)

the flatpak package would do:

• copy the backend to XDG_DATA_DIR (accessible from faltapk)
• use flatpak-spawn --host pkexec backend

there are some packages in flathub that use flatpak-spawn --host pkexec like https://gitlab.gnome.org/World/bustle/

Sounds reasonable, but we probably should do this once I complete the rewrite (which is still WIP on my local machine).

I will reopen this for the time being.