Does Flatpak have the ability to install from different "channels" for its applications, like Snaps?

Linux Discussion Applications
1

One thing I’m using with Snaps is having the ability to install beta or edge version of applications.

Does Flatpak have that ability?

2

I believe flatpak calls this “branches.” If I search for an app by using the “Applicaion ID,” flatpak offers me the option of installing a beta:

flatpak install org.freecadweb.FreeCAD

Looking for matches…
Remotes found with refs similar to ‘org.freecadweb.FreeCAD’:

   1) ‘flathub’ (system)
   2) ‘flathub’ (user)
   3) ‘flathub-beta’ (user)

Which do you want to use (0 to abort)? [0-3]:

After install, either of the following commands will run the stable branch: (stable is the default when no branch is declared)

flatpak run org.frecadweb.FreeCAD
flatpak run --branch=stable org.freecadweb.FreeCAD

But the following command will run the beta version:

flatpak run --branch=beta org.freecadweb.FreeCAD
3

When I looked up Firefox:

$ flatpak install firefox
Looking for matches…
Similar refs found for ‘firefox’ in remote ‘flathub’ (system):

   1) app/org.mozilla.firefox.BaseApp/x86_64/20.08
   2) app/org.mozilla.firefox.BaseApp/x86_64/21.08
   3) app/org.mozilla.firefox/x86_64/stable
   4) app/org.mozilla.firefox.BaseApp/x86_64/22.08

Which do you want to use (0 to abort)? [0-4]:

I don’t see a way to install ESR, and I’m not sure what the difference is between those 4

4

Ah, yes. I can see why you’re confused. I’m not sure there is an ESR available as a flatpak, but let’s see if we can clear up part of this.

Let’s see if the search command clarifies things for us: (I deleted some fuzzy matches, but these two options were at the top of the list)

flatpak search firefox

Name           Description                                                                   Application ID              Version     Branch Remotes
Firefox        Fast, Private & Safe Web Browser                                              org.mozilla.firefox         112.0b9     beta   flathub-beta
Firefox        Fast, Private & Safe Web Browser                                              org.mozilla.firefox         111.0.1     stable flathub,flathub-beta

If I then want to install the beta 112.0b9 branch, I note that it resides on the flathub-beta repository as indicated in the “Remotes” column. So I run the following command: (Note that I specify the remote repository “flathub-beta” after the “install” command)

flatpak install flathub-beta org.mozilla.firefox

Looking for matches…
Similar refs found for ‘org.mozilla.firefox’ in remote ‘flathub-beta’ (user):

   1) app/org.mozilla.firefox/x86_64/beta
   2) app/org.mozilla.firefox/x86_64/stable

Which do you want to use (0 to abort)? [0-2]:

Since the flathub-beta repository houses both a stable version and a beta, I’m presented with the option to choose my target install.

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