How to easily backup Flatpak apps on Linux
Flatpaks are used a lot these days on Linux, but a lot of them don’t have a system to back up configuration files. So, if you move to a new Linux installation, you’ll have to re-configure all of your Flatpak apps.
Thankfully, a program like JdFlatpakSnapshot exists. With this program, a Linux user can back up their Flatpak configuration files in the form of a compressed snapshot for safekeeping. In this guide, we’ll show you how to create Flatpak app snapshots with JdFlatpakSnapshot.
How to install jdFlatpakSnapshot on Linux
JdFlatpakSnapshot is a powerful tool for Linux users, however, it isn’t pre-installed on any Linux operating system. As a result, you must install it before you can use it. There are two ways to install it on Linux: Flatpak and the Python package manager. In this guide, we’ll focus on both installation methods.
To start the installation, open up a terminal window. You can open up a terminal window on the Linux desktop by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on the keyboard. Or, by searching for “Terminal” in the app menu.
Once the terminal app is open, the installation can begin. Follow the installation instructions for JdFlatpakSnapshot that you prefer. Both methods work well, although Flatpak is suggested.
Flatpak
The best way to get JdFlatpakSnapshot working on Linux is with the Flathub app store. The reason for this is that Flathub regularly updates apps, so you’ll always be using the latest version of the app, and it takes little effort to upgrade.
To install jdFlatpakSnapshot as a Flatpak, you must first enable the Flatpak runtime on your system, and you must enable the Flathub app store. To set up the Flatpak runtime on your computer, follow our setup guide. Then, enter the following command to enable the Flathub app store.
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
To install the JdFlatpakSnapshot app on your Linux system as a Flatpak, use the following flatpak install command.
flatpak install flathub page.codeberg.JakobDev.jdFlatpakSnapshot
Python Pip
Another way to get the JdflatpakSnapshot application working on Linux is through Python Pip, the Python package manager. This package manager comes available on every Linux operating system, as they all rely on Python to make their distributions work. As a result, nearly anyone can deploy JdFlatpakSnapshot on Linux with this method.
It should be said that installing JdFlatpakSnapshot with Python rather than Flatpak should only be done by Linux users familiar with Python, or by those looking to avoid using Flatpak. To install the app, ensure you have Pip.
Ubuntu
sudo apt install python-pip
Debian
sudo apt install python-pip
Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S python-pip
Fedora
sudo dnf install python-pip
OpenSUSE
sudo zypper install python3-pip
Once the Python Pip package manager is set up on your Linux system, open up a terminal and enter the following command to install the JdFlatpakSnapshot app on your system. The installation process should be quick.
sudo pip install --prefix /usr/local . sudo ./install-unix-datafiles.py --prefix /usr/local
How to create snapshots with JdFlatpakSnapshot
To create a snapshot with JdFlatpakSnapshot, do the following. First, open up the app on your Linux system. You can launch the app by searching for “JdFlatpakSnapshot” in the app menu.
Once the program is open, it will scan your computer for existing Flatpak configurations. This may take some time. When the process is complete, you’ll see all available Flatpak apps on your system.
Select a Flatpak app that you wish to create a snapshot of with your mouse. Then, find the “Create Snapshot” button. When you click on the “Create Snapshot” button, you’ll be asked to enter a name for your Snapshot. After entering a name, press the “OK” button to continue.
Once you’ve named your snapshot, choose your method of compression. When you’ve selected a compression method, click the “OK” button. After clicking on the “OK” button, JdFlatpakSnapshot will begin taking your snapshot. This process shouldn’t take too long to complete.
Exporting and importing snapshots
If you wish to export your Snapshot to use it on another computer, do the following. First, create your Snapshot. When you’ve created your Snapshot, select it with the mouse in the JdFlatpakSnapshot application.
Upon selecting the Snapshot, find the “Export” button, and click on it with the mouse. This action will allow you to name and export your compressed Snapshot file as a “flatpaksnapshot” file.
After exporting the snapshot, copy it to the new computer, install the JdFlatpakSnapshot app, and click the “File” button. After selecting “File,” import the Snapshot to the new computer.
