On openSUSE Leap installed in Immutable mode, use Flatpak for desktop apps and Podman or Distrobox for many command-line and development tools. These approaches keep their software outside the host’s base package state. If an application must be installed into the host, use transactional-update—but that changes the host snapshot, so it does not meet a strict “leave the base unchanged” requirement.
This guidance applies to Leap configured in Immutable mode, not to every Leap installation. The openSUSE announcement identifies Leap 16.1 as the first release to offer this mode and describes it as a read-only-root, transactionally updated system; the announcement presents 16.1 in the release-candidate/testing phase, not as a final release. Read the Leap 16.1 announcement.
First, confirm you are using Leap Immutable
“Immutable” does not mean you cannot add software. It means the host root is read-only during normal use, and changes to host packages are made transactionally. The Leap 16.1 announcement recommends Flatpak for desktop software and Podman or Distrobox for containerized software. It also documents a transactional method for installing packages into the host when needed. openSUSE Planet: Leap 16.1 announcement.
Check the release and installation mode you selected before running commands. Traditional Leap documentation for YaST and Zypper describes the conventional system model; do not assume its host package-management instructions apply unchanged to Immutable mode. openSUSE Leap documentation index.
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Choose a method by the kind of software
| What you want to install | Preferred route | Does it change the host package snapshot? |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop application | Flatpak, when a suitable app is available | No; the app is managed outside the host RPM package state. |
| Command-line tool or development stack | Podman container or Distrobox, where suitable | Packages go into the container workflow rather than being added individually to the host base. |
| Host-level component or package that cannot sensibly run in a container or Flatpak | sudo transactional-update pkg install <package> |
Yes; it creates a changed host snapshot. |
The exact availability of Flatpak, remotes, Distrobox, and container tools depends on the selected release and image. Check what your installation already includes before setting anything up.
Install a desktop app with Flatpak
For a desktop application, first look for a suitable Flatpak. The Leap 16.1 announcement describes Flatpak as the desktop option. Flathub’s openSUSE instructions say Flatpak is available in the default repositories of currently maintained Leap versions, but that general guidance does not establish that every Immutable image has Flatpak installed or has Flathub configured. Flathub setup instructions for openSUSE.
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Check whether Flatpak is already installed and whether the remote you intend to use is configured. Avoid repeating setup commands without checking the state of your image.
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If Flatpak is absent, Flathub documents installing it with
sudo zypper install flatpak. Because this command uses the host package manager, do not treat it as an automatic instruction for Immutable mode; verify the supported way to obtain Flatpak for your exact image first.Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Rank #3
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To add Flathub, its documented command is
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo. Run it only if Flathub is not already configured and the setup is appropriate for your system. -
Restart to complete setup, as Flathub’s instructions specify. Then install the application using the available Flatpak workflow for that app.
Use Distrobox or Podman for command-line and development tools
When an app is primarily a CLI tool or needs a development stack, a container can keep its dependencies apart from the host package base. The Leap 16.1 announcement recommends Podman or Distrobox for this kind of additional software. Distrobox’s Leap 16.0 manual documents installing development packages inside a container and exporting applications or binaries to the host user environment. Distrobox manual: openSUSE Leap 16.0.
Before following a container tutorial, verify that your Immutable image supports and includes Distrobox or a suitable container manager. The cited documentation does not establish that those tools are preinstalled on every Leap Immutable image. Once available, install the needed packages inside the container rather than using ordinary host-level zypper install for each dependency.
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When a package must be installed into the host
Some software may require host integration—for example, a system component that cannot sensibly run in a user container or Flatpak. The documented transactional command is:
sudo transactional-update pkg install <package>
This is not a way to keep the base unchanged: it changes the host package state by creating a new system snapshot. The openSUSE Planet announcement says to reboot to use the new snapshot and documents sudo transactional-update rollback to return if something goes wrong. Compatibility is package-specific; the cited announcement does not identify every package that requires host installation.
Be careful with third-party RPM repositories
If you are considering an RPM from a third-party repository, check who provides it and how that source may affect later updates. The openSUSE software-procurement guide is written for Tumbleweed rather than Leap Immutable, so it is useful here only for the general packaging trade-off—not as a command guide for this system. openSUSE software management guide.
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