Spaced Linux Welcome is the native first-run application installer for Spaced Linux. It installs SpacedBazaar and a curated set of user Flatpaks from Flathub and the signed Spaced GitHub repository after the OS is installed.
The UI always names the application and source currently being installed. Its Details pane streams remote setup, Flatpak, retry, and failure output while work is in progress.
The Help & Apps page starts with task-oriented recommendations for video,
photos, audio, email, coding, emulation, streaming, and games. Choosing one
launches its exact appstream:// page in SpacedBazaar; the
user still confirms any installation in Bazaar.
Catalog
The structured catalog lives in data/catalog.json. Version 1 contains these
verified CRHY applications:
| Application | Flatpak ID | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| SpacedBazaar | io.github.crhy.SpacedBazaar |
Signed spaced-github remote |
| Voice2Text AI | io.github.crhy.voice2textai |
Signed spaced-github remote |
| Cards With Cats | io.github.crhy.CardsWithCats |
Signed spaced-github remote |
| Brutal Chess | io.github.crhy.BrutalChess |
Signed spaced-github remote |
| Spaced Update | org.spacedlinux.SpacedUpdate |
Signed spaced-github remote |
Audacious, Brave, LibreOffice, and VLC are suggested from Flathub's stable
branch. Every catalog entry names its branch explicitly so a missing remote
branch fails validation before release instead of on an end user's machine.
SpacedBazaar's publication job validates each curated GitHub release bundle,
imports it into a GPG-signed OSTree repository, and regenerates AppStream
metadata. Welcome installs those reviewed applications by exact Flatpak ID from
that same spaced-github remote. This avoids mutable “latest release” downloads
at first login and gives every app a normal signed update path.
Commands
spaced-welcome-install --list spaced-welcome-install --list --json spaced-welcome-install --install suggested spaced-welcome-install --install cards-with-cats --events spaced-welcome
--events emits newline-delimited JSON for the GTK UI and other front ends.
One failed application does not prevent the remaining suggestions from being
attempted.
Development
make check make deb
The package artifact is exactly dist/spaced-welcome_0.1.9_all.deb.
The behavioral test harness can inject commands and paths without weakening production validation:
SPACED_WELCOME_CATALOGSPACED_WELCOME_FLATPAKSPACED_WELCOME_ATTEMPTSSPACED_WELCOME_RETRY_DELAYSPACED_WELCOME_INSTALLER
Packaging and OS integration
This project ships a native Architecture: all Debian package because the
first-run app must invoke the host Flatpak installation, detect the live
session, refresh desktop exports, and launch Spaced Linux system tools. The
Flatpak build uses the standard host Flatpak portal for the same operations.
Spaced Linux should install only the small native spaced-welcome Debian
package in the live filesystem. On the installed system, the user can choose
Install Suggested Apps to fetch SpacedBazaar and the rest of the catalog.
License
Copyright 2026 Spaced Linux Team. Licensed under the GNU General Public License,
version 3 or (at your option) any later version. See LICENSE.