How to Install Apps on CentOS Part 2 - Other App Stores

How to Install Apps on CentOS Part 2- Other App Stores

Since CentOS doesn't have much support for apps the everyday user needs, there are third-party stores that can be used. Since GNOME Software (Or, as your Computer will show you, Software) is pre-installed, We won't be using that.

The Snap Store

The Snap store is an amazing extension. With a UI that looks almost exactly like GNOME Software, it is incredibly easy to use - not to mention most things can be installed by typing a few words into the command line.

To install the command line edition, Type the following in the command line:
sudo yum install epel-release

Then, to install the actual app,

 sudo yum install snapd

Then, according to the website, you need to type a couple more lines of code (each line is its own command)
sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket
sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

Now, you have snap installed! Keep in mind, this is the best option for snaps. However, there is yet another alternative - installing the Graphical User Interface.

For that, you simply go to their website and install the RPM. 

WebCatalog

WebCatalog is a nice little app for Windows, Linux, and Mac which turns any website into an app. The only problem is that the app comes as an AppImage. Thankfully, however, the website-apps it installs are not, in fact, AppImages. The reason I use this is to replace Windows and Mac apps that don't have Linux alternatives - like Notion and Gmail.

Flatpak and Flathub

This is a necessity for my fellow gamers, students, and people who just wanna get work done. A catalog of apps that are absent in the other stores, Flatpak is a must have. Not to mention, there are two ways to install - from the command line, and/or from the User Interface.
To install Flatpak on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, simply run
sudo yum install flatpak

Then install the Repository File Thing. Then, go to the Flathub site. Then, you can install an app from its massive catalogue by either: clicking the install button at the top of the page and installing it like it is an RPM file (even though it has a ".flatpakref" file extension, it is an RPM file at heart), or copy-pasting the commands at the bottom of the page into your command line.

The install button
The command line instructions at the bottom of the page

Conclusion

While the default software app and yum have a lot of apps, the apps you may want for yourself may not be present there. There are many other options for installing your favorite windows and mac apps that we didn't go over, like WINE (a Windows option), WINEpak (another Windows Option). There is a Mac option, but for the life of me, I can't remember what it is.
UPDATE! I just remembered the Mac alternative! It's Homebrew.

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