immutable distributions use flatpaks as their source for desktop applications, it is what they recommend you use.

most (endless os does not) support layering, but they also advise against it unless you have to. even bazzite says to do and try literally every other option, even running a windows binary under emulation, before layering packages. they know their shit better than i do, so i’m not gonna layer a ton of packages and depends for dozens of applications just so i can use a clipboard or drag stuff between any them.

nor do i want added complexity of screwing around with toolbx containers. for one program to try or to run temporarily for a one-off task or very specific thing you don’t want your system cluttered with? sure. i’ve got a couple things set up right now using toolbx. for 30+ desktop applications, some of which are large or pull in a bunch of depends? hell no. it’s not the right tool.

i also do not need or want yet another package manager and binary repos in brew, and brew doesn’t have that much i’d be looking at anyway.

appimages are not really the answer either, not everything has one, some are built upon fuse v2 (no longer supported), and some are third-party builds you might not want to trust.

so, that leaves flatpaks as ‘the’ source for desktop applications–unless you are fond of terminal screens and hoop-jumping, needless added complexity, or want to go against the strong recommendations of the folks that literally make your immutable rpm-ostree based distribution.