What is LX? Linux? Blufin is even one step further that classical Linux, where you go to the Software application and install app or just use terminal with “dnf install <package>” on Fedora like distors. But Blufin idea is that operating system and applications should be separated and operating system should be as much as possible read-only (that is the name of “immutable”). In this case that is fundamentally different then Windows or classic Linux where ever program you install gets embed into existing system. This “immutable” principle in Blufin is way more like mobile phones are functioning where operating system is separate from applications.
Now, this looks like a mess… but it is because Linux is a freedom on choice. For any Universal Blue including Aurora there is a hierarchy of recommended way of installating packages which is the best described on Aurora’s Bazzite sister web page: first try to install application from flatpak (GUI is Software app), if flatpak does not exists follow second choice… if no second third etc.
I don’t use OpenDrive, but it may be installed inside distrobox container. Container is still separated from operating system. I have written detailed how-to in another similar thread and probably you can follow.
But… if you get to the bottom of Bazzite list, then you get to the “rpm-ostree”. Now you get to the Windows or classical Linux level where you mix applications and operating system. But in Aurora (any Universal Blue image actually) you get layers. First layer is you operating system and any application you install this way gets another layer on “top” of your operating system.
What happens when Aurora gets updated (like once per week):
- New Aurora image (operating system) gets downloaded.
- New Aurora image gets installed (after reboot)
- Any layered package gets installed on top of installed image (= operating system).
This is perfectly fine for software that required root (administrator) privileges like the one directly accessing disk or similar… but ordinary applications it is better to run them in distrobox container (like described in my how-to).
What can happen? If something fundamentally different appears in image update (less likely) then maybe layered packages will not be working well and you will need to uninstall them using rpm-ostree command and install it back.
and
It is long time I have used layered package, but I think it does get updated (unless package was installed directly from RPM file).
If package gets automatically updated it depends if package is installed from repository (like rpm-ostree install…) or you download RPM file and use “rpm” command (just like downloading exe file on Windows and install it - it will not get updated automatically).
Bottom line is, it is nothing wrong installing package as layered package (rpm-ostree install <package>), but… in this case you lose the idea of immutable operating system, because you have mixed applications with operating system and you get actually to the parity of classical Linux or Windows - you can get little bit less stable system, you know from the days of Windows every application you install can (in most cases doesn’t) make your system unstable.
Getting starting with Linux and jump directly to the Blufin is hard work, because in Blufin there are plenty of all kind of options… But don’t worry just ask the questions and someone will answer them or point you to the better forum if you have some specifics about some application (e.g. if you are asking about web browser features then it is better to ask them on web browser forum).