[GH-ISSUE #2288] Request official flatpak or SNAP #47831

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opened 2026-04-28 05:26:33 -05:00 by GiteaMirror · 20 comments
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Originally created by @Danathar on GitHub (Jan 31, 2024).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/ollama/ollama/issues/2288

Originally assigned to: @dhiltgen on GitHub.

I'd like to request a flatpak. It's easier to install, easy to sandbox, safer than piping a script into bash and cross platform! You can then submit the flatpak to flathub, get the verified icon and things would be awesome! ;)

thanks!

Edit: It's been pointed out (and I forgot) that flatpaks really aren't designed for server software or command line tools and that snaps are more appropriate. Although I am not a huge fan of snaps, this may be a better way to go.

Originally created by @Danathar on GitHub (Jan 31, 2024). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/ollama/ollama/issues/2288 Originally assigned to: @dhiltgen on GitHub. I'd like to request a flatpak. It's easier to install, easy to sandbox, safer than piping a script into bash and cross platform! You can then submit the flatpak to flathub, get the verified icon and things would be awesome! ;) thanks! Edit: It's been pointed out (and I forgot) that flatpaks really aren't designed for server software or command line tools and that snaps are more appropriate. Although I am not a huge fan of snaps, this may be a better way to go.
GiteaMirror added the feature request label 2026-04-28 05:26:33 -05:00
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@terminal-cs commented on GitHub (Feb 13, 2024):

+1 plz do this

<!-- gh-comment-id:1942206719 --> @terminal-cs commented on GitHub (Feb 13, 2024): +1 plz do this
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@rugk commented on GitHub (Feb 27, 2024):

I agree! It would be nice if you could publish this as a flatpak on flathub e.g.

Flatpaks are a new software distribution mechanism for Linux distros, can thus installed on any distro and are easy to update. They are easy to install and update and work on all Linux distros.
Also, if you publish it on FlatHub you may grow your user base given many distros include that and it is a common software source, so your app can be discovered more easily.

Here is how to get started.

<!-- gh-comment-id:1967618619 --> @rugk commented on GitHub (Feb 27, 2024): I agree! It would be nice if you could publish this as a [flatpak](https://flatpak.org/) on [flathub](https://flathub.org/) e.g. Flatpaks are a new software distribution mechanism for Linux distros, can thus installed on any distro and are easy to update. They are easy to install _and_ update and work on all Linux distros. Also, if you publish it on _FlatHub_ you may grow your user base given many distros include that and it is a common software source, so your app can be discovered more easily. Here is [how to get started](http://docs.flatpak.org/en/latest/getting-started.html).
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@RuofengX commented on GitHub (Apr 18, 2024):

Agree. I am in China, the international connect is not good sometime. The process of install the ollame cli will benefit a lot from flatpak mirrors.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2063923625 --> @RuofengX commented on GitHub (Apr 18, 2024): Agree. I am in China, the international connect is not good sometime. The process of install the ollame cli will benefit a lot from flatpak mirrors.
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@tsilvs commented on GitHub (Jun 1, 2024):

There is an OpenSUSE RPM of Ollama (in "Factory" builds repo), maintained by dimstar @DimStar77

It's ~10 times smaller than the official builds. Flatpak build could probably be optimized in the same way.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2143386394 --> @tsilvs commented on GitHub (Jun 1, 2024): There is an [OpenSUSE RPM of Ollama](https://opensuse.pkgs.org/tumbleweed/opensuse-oss-x86_64/ollama-0.1.38-2.1.x86_64.rpm.html) ([in "Factory" builds repo](https://build.opensuse.org/package/show/openSUSE:Factory/ollama)), maintained by [dimstar](https://build.opensuse.org/users/dimstar_suse) @DimStar77 It's ~10 times smaller than the official builds. Flatpak build could probably be optimized in the same way.
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@ghost commented on GitHub (Jun 2, 2024):

It would be fantastic to have a Flatpak of this on Flathub. It would be much easier to maintain and use.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2143977962 --> @ghost commented on GitHub (Jun 2, 2024): It would be fantastic to have a Flatpak of this on Flathub. It would be much easier to maintain and use.
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@tsilvs commented on GitHub (Jun 3, 2024):

Also without a Flatpak or a native package release (e.g. .rpm) current installation process is incompatible with immutable root distros (e.g. Fedora Silverblue under ostree).

<!-- gh-comment-id:2145684404 --> @tsilvs commented on GitHub (Jun 3, 2024): Also without a Flatpak or a native package release (e.g. `.rpm`) current installation process is incompatible with immutable root distros (e.g. Fedora Silverblue under `ostree`).
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@richardstevenhack commented on GitHub (Jun 9, 2024):

I second this. I want to run Ollama on openSUSE which at the moment it doesn't (due to my inadequate GPU) and having to install and run it as root due to it being installed in the wrong location. A flatpak or AppImage would likely solve the latter.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2156357653 --> @richardstevenhack commented on GitHub (Jun 9, 2024): I second this. I want to run Ollama on openSUSE which at the moment it doesn't (due to my inadequate GPU) and having to install and run it as root due to it being installed in the wrong location. A flatpak or AppImage would likely solve the latter.
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@wiiznokes commented on GitHub (Jun 16, 2024):

Flatpak is not meant for cli, so it will never be accepted in flathub. There is a snap, but it doesn't seems to be very maintained, and my nvidia card was not used

<!-- gh-comment-id:2170985568 --> @wiiznokes commented on GitHub (Jun 16, 2024): Flatpak is not meant for cli, so it will never be accepted in flathub. There is a [snap](https://snapcraft.io/ollama), but it doesn't seems to be very maintained, and my nvidia card was not used
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@richardstevenhack commented on GitHub (Jun 16, 2024):

I found an openSUSE package which does install properly and runs version 0.1.40, so only 4 release behind. :-)
https://software.opensuse.org/package/ollama

<!-- gh-comment-id:2171051764 --> @richardstevenhack commented on GitHub (Jun 16, 2024): I found an openSUSE package which does install properly and runs version 0.1.40, so only 4 release behind. :-) https://software.opensuse.org/package/ollama
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@Danathar commented on GitHub (Jun 17, 2024):

Flatpak is not meant for cli, so it will never be accepted in flathub. There is a snap, but it doesn't seems to be very maintained, and my nvidia card was not used

That's actually a very good point. I had completely forgotten about the fact that flatpaks are not really for command-line or server-side software. Although I always go for flatpaks when available, if a snap is the way to go, then yes, I could get behind that.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2174150919 --> @Danathar commented on GitHub (Jun 17, 2024): > Flatpak is not meant for cli, so it will never be accepted in flathub. There is a [snap](https://snapcraft.io/ollama), but it doesn't seems to be very maintained, and my nvidia card was not used That's actually a very good point. I had completely forgotten about the fact that flatpaks are not really for command-line or server-side software. Although I always go for flatpaks when available, if a snap is the way to go, then yes, I could get behind that.
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@tsilvs commented on GitHub (Jun 26, 2024):

Flatpak is not meant for cli

flatpaks are not really for command-line

Flatpaks can be called as flatpak run org.example.app --opt1 --opt2 --etc from terminal and even aliased as alias app="flatpak run org.example.app"

<!-- gh-comment-id:2192112250 --> @tsilvs commented on GitHub (Jun 26, 2024): > > Flatpak is not meant for cli > > flatpaks are not really for command-line Flatpaks can be called as `flatpak run org.example.app --opt1 --opt2 --etc` from terminal and even aliased as `alias app="flatpak run org.example.app"`
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@Anvil5465 commented on GitHub (Jun 26, 2024):

fyi in case this is helpful to anyone following this--there is an unofficial GUI for ollama with a flatpak package called Alpaca

<!-- gh-comment-id:2192178942 --> @Anvil5465 commented on GitHub (Jun 26, 2024): fyi in case this is helpful to anyone following this--there is an unofficial GUI for ollama with a flatpak package called [Alpaca](https://github.com/Jeffser/Alpaca)
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@richardstevenhack commented on GitHub (Jun 26, 2024):

Thanks for the link to Alpaca. Just installed it and testing. It's limited, but does the job of a simple Ollama interface.

For anyone considering it, note that the default Ollama port was changed to 11435 instead of 11434. I had to change it back in the config file for it to connect to my running Ollama.

Also I think if you pull a model using its interface, it will store the model in ~/.var/app/com.jeffser.Alpaca/data/.ollama/models/ whereas on my openSUSE Tumbleweed system, Ollama stores its models in /var/lib/ollama/.ollama/models/. So if you pull models using Alpaca, you'll end up with two models in two different places or you'll have to copy them from one to the other.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2192617462 --> @richardstevenhack commented on GitHub (Jun 26, 2024): Thanks for the link to Alpaca. Just installed it and testing. It's limited, but does the job of a simple Ollama interface. For anyone considering it, note that the default Ollama port was changed to 11435 instead of 11434. I had to change it back in the config file for it to connect to my running Ollama. Also I think if you pull a model using its interface, it will store the model in ~/.var/app/com.jeffser.Alpaca/data/.ollama/models/ whereas on my openSUSE Tumbleweed system, Ollama stores its models in /var/lib/ollama/.ollama/models/. So if you pull models using Alpaca, you'll end up with two models in two different places or you'll have to copy them from one to the other.
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@wiiznokes commented on GitHub (Jun 26, 2024):

Flatpak is not meant for cli

flatpaks are not really for command-line

Flatpaks can be called as flatpak run org.example.app --opt1 --opt2 --etc from terminal and even aliased as alias app="flatpak run org.example.app"

That is true, i apologize. The doc say

Flathub is primarily focused on graphical desktop applications and they have the following expectations to ensure effective desktop integration.

Do note that CLI applications do not require a .desktop file but TUI applications should have a .desktop file with Terminal=true.

So it should be ok to package it with flatpak. That being said, running flatpak run org.example.app each time is kinda disappointing (i know there are script for that, but it require extra steps. Also, i'm not sure if flatpak can integrate a system service but i may be wrong

<!-- gh-comment-id:2192649545 --> @wiiznokes commented on GitHub (Jun 26, 2024): > > > Flatpak is not meant for cli > > > > > > flatpaks are not really for command-line > > Flatpaks can be called as `flatpak run org.example.app --opt1 --opt2 --etc` from terminal and even aliased as `alias app="flatpak run org.example.app"` That is true, i apologize. The [doc](https://docs.flathub.org/docs/for-app-authors/requirements/#desktop-integration) say > > Flathub is primarily focused on graphical desktop applications and they have the following expectations to ensure effective desktop integration. > > Do note that CLI applications do not require a .desktop file but TUI applications should have a .desktop file with Terminal=true. So it should be ok to package it with flatpak. That being said, running `flatpak run org.example.app` each time is kinda disappointing (i know there are script for that, but it require extra steps. Also, i'm not sure if flatpak can integrate a system service but i may be wrong
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@rugk commented on GitHub (Aug 3, 2024):

FYI another animal-named GUI for AI models, that is (now) on flathub is BTW this one: https://flathub.org/apps/com.jeffser.Alpaca

<!-- gh-comment-id:2267177286 --> @rugk commented on GitHub (Aug 3, 2024): FYI another animal-named GUI for AI models, that is (now) on flathub is BTW this one: https://flathub.org/apps/com.jeffser.Alpaca
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@otuva commented on GitHub (Jan 27, 2025):

I do have some experience with flatpaks and their maintenance. I'd like to contribute.
Is this also wanted by repo owners?

<!-- gh-comment-id:2614876170 --> @otuva commented on GitHub (Jan 27, 2025): I do have some experience with flatpaks and their maintenance. I'd like to contribute. Is this also wanted by repo owners?
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@ali1234 commented on GitHub (Jun 29, 2025):

Flatpak is not meant for cli, so it will never be accepted in flathub. There is a snap, but it doesn't seems to be very maintained, and my nvidia card was not used

It's a year later now and this snap seems to be quite well maintained: at time of writing the stable channel is on 0.9.0 and the beta channel is on 0.9.2 (tagged 11 days ago, and snapped 6 days ago, a lag of 5 days). 0.9.3 (tagged 3 days ago) has not been snapped yet, but I expect it will be sooner rather than later. This snap does use nvidia for me and generally seems to work exactly as you would expect, at least on Ubuntu.

There is a snap for open-webui from the same maintainer, but that only has a beta channel and it is over a year old. I can't speak for how well it works as I have not tried to use it.

<!-- gh-comment-id:3016941317 --> @ali1234 commented on GitHub (Jun 29, 2025): > Flatpak is not meant for cli, so it will never be accepted in flathub. There is a [snap](https://snapcraft.io/ollama), but it doesn't seems to be very maintained, and my nvidia card was not used It's a year later now and this snap seems to be quite well maintained: at time of writing the stable channel is on 0.9.0 and the beta channel is on 0.9.2 (tagged 11 days ago, and snapped 6 days ago, a lag of 5 days). 0.9.3 (tagged 3 days ago) has not been snapped yet, but I expect it will be sooner rather than later. This snap does use nvidia for me and generally seems to work exactly as you would expect, at least on Ubuntu. There is a snap for open-webui from the same maintainer, but that only has a beta channel and it is over a year old. I can't speak for how well it works as I have not tried to use it.
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@ser commented on GitHub (Dec 18, 2025):

FYI another animal-named GUI for AI models, that is (now) on flathub is BTW this one: https://flathub.org/apps/com.jeffser.Alpaca

from inside this package you can install ollama only, flatpak install flathub com.jeffser.Alpaca.Plugins.Ollama

<!-- gh-comment-id:3669519207 --> @ser commented on GitHub (Dec 18, 2025): > FYI another animal-named GUI for AI models, that is (now) on flathub is BTW this one: https://flathub.org/apps/com.jeffser.Alpaca from inside this package you can install ollama only, `flatpak install flathub com.jeffser.Alpaca.Plugins.Ollama`
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@Danathar commented on GitHub (Dec 18, 2025):

I've kinda changed my tune on this since deploying it as a quadman podlet, though I'd still like to see a more platform agnostic way of deploying it for people that don't want to use podman or docker.

<!-- gh-comment-id:3669765575 --> @Danathar commented on GitHub (Dec 18, 2025): I've kinda changed my tune on this since deploying it as a quadman podlet, though I'd still like to see a more platform agnostic way of deploying it for people that don't want to use podman or docker.
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@richardstevenhack commented on GitHub (Dec 18, 2025):

I now use MSTY Studio - https://msty.ai/ - which embeds a copy of the Ollama server in its own system setup.

The only downside is when Ollama updates its server, you have to download it manually and move it into MSTY's config directory. They don't automatically update the server themselves. A minor issue.

MSTY itself has enormous capabilities, including serving the embedded Ollama server to other third-party utilities. Unless you're fixated on the command line, a GUI like this is the way to go to run local and remote LLMs.

<!-- gh-comment-id:3670421636 --> @richardstevenhack commented on GitHub (Dec 18, 2025): I now use MSTY Studio - https://msty.ai/ - which embeds a copy of the Ollama server in its own system setup. The only downside is when Ollama updates its server, you have to download it manually and move it into MSTY's config directory. They don't automatically update the server themselves. A minor issue. MSTY itself has enormous capabilities, including serving the embedded Ollama server to other third-party utilities. Unless you're fixated on the command line, a GUI like this is the way to go to run local and remote LLMs.
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Reference: github-starred/ollama#47831