Vanilla OS 2
immutable system
atomic updates
based on Debian Sid

Install Applications

Using Flatpak

Use GNOME Software app. Alternatively use terminal commands:

Search, install, and run applications

$ flatpak search valvesoftware

$ flatpak install --user com.valvesoftware.Steam

$ flatpak run com.valvesoftware.Steam

List installed applications and runtimes

$ flatpak list

Update installed applications and runtimes

$ flatpak update

Using apt in VSO v2

Search and install packages in the subsystem

$ apt search <string>

$ sudo apt install <package>

List subsystem packages: all | matching | installed | upgradable

$ apt list

$ apt list <package>

$ apt list --installed

$ apt list --upgradable

Update the subsystem repository and upgrade all installed subsystem packages

$ sudo apt update

$ sudo apt upgrade

Using VSO v2 shell

Search and install packages within the subsystem

$ vso search <string>

$ vso install <package>

Make subsystem apps available/unavailable in the host system

$ vso export --app <package>

$ vso unexport --bin <package>

Use --app or -a for graphical applications and --bin or -b for command line binaries

Run commands inside the subsystem

$ vso run <command>

Update the subsystem repo and upgrade packages

$ vso update

$ vso upgrade

Using APX v2 utilizing Distrobox

Use apx app or terminal commands:

List available stacks

$ apx stacks list

Initialize and start a subsystem

$ apx subsystems new

$ apx archlinux start

(Example subsystem named archlinux)

Search and install a package

$ apx archlinux search <string>

$ apx archlinux install <package>

Export/unexport a program

$ apx archlinux export --app-name <package>

$ apx archlinux unexport --bin <package>

List installed packages, update repos, and upgrade packages

$ apx archlinux list

$ apx archlinux update

$ apx archlinux upgrade

Run a command

$ apx archlinux run -- <command>

Enter a subsystem shell

$ apx archlinux enter

Then use the corresponding commands in that subsystem, like pacman -Sy <package>

Miscellaneous

Add Flatpak software repository (for GNOME Software)

Useful after creating a new user account if the available software list appears empty

$ flatpak remote-add --user --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Run privileged commands

Access the host shell and instead of sudo use pkexec controlled by PolKit

$ host-shell

$ pkexec <command>

Change user password, even if insecure

$ host-shell

$ pkexec passwd <username>

Delete password

$ host-shell

$ pkexec passwd -d <username>

Fix boot delay caused by a stuck TPM systemd device unit

$ host-shell

$ systemctl mask dev-tpmrm0.device

Fix boot delay triggered by nmbd.service unit

$ host-shell

$ systemctl mask nmbd.service

Fix "Temporary failure resolving (address)" due to bad DNS configuration in overlay /etc/resolv.conf

$ cat /etc/resolv.conf

$ findmnt -no FSTYPE /etc/resolv.conf

$ sudo umount /etc/resolv.conf

$ sudo mount --rbind -o rslave /run/host/etc/resolv.conf /etc/resolv.conf

Reset a subsystem

$ apx subsystems reset --name archlinux

Use --name or -n

Reinitialize a broken subsystem from inside the host shell (switch to another VT with e.g. Ctrl+Alt+F3)

$ reset-vso