Flathub: Improving App Quality and Metadata Standards

📦Flathub has grown from a niche platform with flat packs to a platform with over 2400 apps.

🎯The early goal of Flathub was to have applications available, now the focus is on raising the bar and improving app quality.

🌟Flathub introduces new guidelines for app metadata to address the prevalence of low-quality metadata.

🔍Curation of the Flathub store highlights apps that meet the criteria and promotes high-quality apps.

🖼️Icon design guidelines include size, contrast, and alignment with contemporary styles.

Why is metadata quality important for app discovery?

—With the release of new apps on Flathub on a weekly basis, metadata quality is crucial for introducing users to these new apps and enhancing app discovery.

Are third-party developed apps allowed on Flathub?

—Yes, third-party developed apps are allowed on Flathub. However, they may not be promoted as prominently as high-quality apps that meet the new metadata guidelines.

Can developers still package apps for Flathub if they don't meet the new guidelines?

—Yes, developers can still package apps for Flathub even if they don't meet the new guidelines. However, they will receive information about the criteria they need to work on in order to improve their app's metadata quality.

What are the guidelines for app icons?

—App icons should be in SVG or PNG format with a size greater or equal to 256x256 pixels. They should have good contrast, avoid baked-in shadows or glows, and be in line with contemporary icon styles.

Are there restrictions on app names?

—App names should ideally be between 10 and 25 characters and no longer than 35 characters. They should not contain technical terms, weird formatting or punctuation, and should use sentence case instead of title case.

00:00Flathub has grown from a niche platform to a platform with over 2400 apps.

02:40Flathub introduces new guidelines for app metadata to address the prevalence of low-quality metadata.

05:00Curation of the Flathub store highlights apps that meet the criteria and promotes high-quality apps.

06:20Icon design guidelines include size, contrast, and alignment with contemporary styles.

09:40Metadata quality is crucial for introducing users to new apps and enhancing app discovery.

11:40Third-party developed apps are allowed on Flathub, but may not be promoted as prominently as high-quality apps.

13:20Developers can still package apps for Flathub even if they don't meet the new guidelines.

14:40App icons should be in SVG or PNG format with good contrast and in line with contemporary styles.