.flatpakrepo file for floss subset

Jul 18, 2025
F
#1

I noticed that enabling Flathub for a distro that already has flatpak installed only needs a simple 1 or 2 click install, by opening the .flatpakrepo file in your app store.

However, adding subsets like floss or verified requires the user first know that this functionality exists, then to look up the instructions in docs, and then execute commands in the terminal.

I need a simple install file for users on Debian based distros with flatpak already installed. Will editing the above file by adding a subset line (as shown below) be the correct way?

[Flatpak Repo]
Title=Flathub
Subset=floss
Url=https://dl.flathub.org/repo/
Homepage=https://flathub.org/
Comment=Central repository of Flatpak applications
Description=Central repository of Flatpak applications
Icon=https://dl.flathub.org/repo/logo.svg
GPGKey=mQINBFlD2sABEADsiUZU...

Would appreciate any help with this. Thanks.

C
#2

Looking at the documentation, this seems fine.

Or do you encounter an issue when using this repo file?

1 reply
F
#3
Replying to #2

Thanks for replying. I tried using the modified flatpakrepo file but It adds the unfiltered flathub repo, not the floss subset :frowning:

1 reply
C
#4
Replying to #3

Do you use GNOME Software to install the repo file?

I have checked the behavior of the file on a test system.
If you use the file directly with flatpak remote-add flathub --from flathub.flatpakrepo, it does recognize the subset option from the file. GNOME Software, on the other hand, does not.

So this seems to be an bug in GNOME Software itself, or any other GUI you’ve been using. So you might want to report it there.

1