Layer apps via repofiles onto the system

Layering Fedora Packages

WARNING: Layering certain packages can pause system updates until removed!

NOTE: Don't install apps as layers unless you absolutely have to!

Layering applications with rpm-ostree can be quite daunting when you first look at it. See the software installation "hierarchy" from our friends over at Bazzite: Software Installation Methods ranked by most recommended. Specific software must layered to function properly. This applies to packages like 1Password when you want to use the SSH feature or a VPN clients like Mullvad. This guide is aiming to show you how you can install / layer apps on the system and have it update itself when the base image get's updated. To accomplish this, your app needs to have a Fedora Repository setup.

_{Please also note that installing software as a layer will increase the time it takes for system updates to complete. While you should not notice this in day-to-day usage because the system updates silently in the background, it's still slower.}

Steps

Example: Mullvad VPN Software

1. Identify the repo file you need (if necessary)

Mullvad conveniently provides the link to the repository file directly on their website. In this example, the repo file is located at https://repository.mullvad.net/rpm/stable/mullvad.repo.

2. Add the repo file (if necessary)

Now we can take that URL and execute the following commands:

cd /etc/yum.repos.d/ #Change into the repository directory
sudo wget https://repository.mullvad.net/rpm/stable/mullvad.repo #Save the repo file to the directory

3. Layering the package

rpm-ostree will now index the new repository and after that search for the desired application there.

With a little

rpm-ostree install mullvad-vpn

We have now successfully layered Mullvad on our system. Reboot the system and you should now find Mullvad in your application list.