I’m installing Thunderbird in F43 on my brand new laptop. I’m tempted to try the Flatpak version rather than the RPM I’ve used in the past.
Any suggestions, one way or the other?
If I go with Flatpak, how do I figure out where the .thunderbird profile is? (I need to copy the profile from my old machine.)
Flatpak apps file are in ~/var/appID/
I think, but don’t quote me, that both flatpak and repository are the esr version, 140.??
If you want the release version (stupid name, stupid concept) 146.?.? or 147.?.? I think you have to download it here: https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/all/
I just checked, and you’re right: both the RPM and the Flatpak are 146.0.1, whereas the Thunderbird site offers 147.0.1.
rpm: thunderbird - Fedora Packages currently v.146 (old-stable)
flatpak from flathub: https://flathub.org/en/apps/org.mozilla.Thunderbird currently v.140.7.1esr (ESR branch)
Interresting question.
I haven’t installed Thunderbird yet for different reasons. But VLC Flatpack had major issues with accessing a Network Drive.
I removed it and installed the VLC rpm version. All problems were resolved.
I’ve now installed the Flatpak version from flathub. It basically seems to work, though I have a problem that I’ve had before when copying a Thunderbird profile to a new machine, namely that all locally stored messages received in recent months are missing.
Indeed, I misread the version numbers. The Fedora flatpak is 146.0.1, whereas Flathub’s is 140.7.1esr.
The out-of-date flatpak has caused lots of trouble with migrating my TB profile to my new laptop, because I was running the newer RPM version on the old laptop, and the newer profile is incompatible. I will definitely not be using the Flathub version.
In getting to the bottom of the problems I had installing Thunderbird, I found ChatGPT very useful. Maybe it or another AI could help you with the Flatpak version of VLC.
VLC is working perfectly fine using RPM. It resolved any issues getting to the NAS drive on the home network. The flatpack issue might even be already resolved as I had quite a lot of updates since then. I have a working VLC, no point messing with it now.
I’d personally go with the flatpak since I’m an Atomic Desktop user. The RPM is a little more up to date as it’s not the ESR that the flatpak (flathub) is.
Could have also been permissions issues. Do you have Flatseal installed? There are various permissions to access external drives (e.g. /run/media), host:ro permission (broad) to access host files and/or filesystem=home, etc. (this is specifically for the Flatseal GUI)
Basically, whenever a flatpak is complaining about not having access, reviewing its permissions in Flatseal is the way to go. Also worth just checking all the permissions for all the flatpaks and revoking any that are not needed on your system. Boosts your security 
i would tend to agree with @boniboyblue
flatpak unless you are running into issues, or are constrained with disk space… too many benefits overall - self-contained dependencies that allow you to run apps that may have conflicting ones. easy rollbacks, and the obvious - sandboxing as well. 
I might look at Flatpack VLC later on and give it another shot..just out of interest.
Right now I am dealing with other issues since the latest security update that included a new Kernel like. systemd-vconsole-setup.service that now has another Font problem (not the same one I did with Francis. That is resolved). Samba smb that fails at time to start.. 
