linuxmemes

Linux had package managers long before app stores were a thing. Package managers just mean that instead of downloading NotAVirus.exe from some sketchy web site and hoping it's the app you're looking for, you get your software from a (trusted) central source, that is community maintained so you can be sure that it's up to date and secure.

Of course, you can still manually install things. Or even build from source, giving you nearly unlimited options to tweak things as you like. But the good thing is, you don't have to.

It's an analogy to help people understand how easy it is to install stuff on linux (applications, libraries, services, etc.). App stores are just frontends to package managers. Package managers get their packages from package repositories. On linux, there are multiple package repositories and a plethora of package repositories.

On Android (a linux derivative) nearly each manufacturer has their own app store + Google App Store. There are also opensource app stores like the most known one: F-Droid. Which also has a default repository, but others can be easily added.
The iPhone famously only had sideloading and often what was installed was an app store pointing to the cracker's repository. Starting April 2024, Apple will have to allow installing other app stores (only 15 years after Android) thanks to EU regulation.
Linux allowed all that long before app stores were a thing.

Steam, GOG, the Epic Store, and a bunch of "stores" work on the same concept. Do you balk at those too?

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