LinuxToys

LinuxToys is a software distribution platform for Linux systems. It aims to make powerful Linux functionality simple and accessible to all users through an intuitive interface, and enable developers to ship their apps consistently and reliably by giving them control over the installation process of their apps, all in one solution for dozens of Linux distributions.

Compatibility

LinuxToys is compatible with the following Linux distributions, provided they are running their latest stable versions:

• Debian and derivatives (PikaOS, LMDE, Tuxedo, etc.)
• Ubuntu and derivatives (Ubuntu flavours, Mint, Zorin, etc.)
• Fedora and derivatives (Nobara, Ultramarine and spins)
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux and similars (CentOS Stream, AlmaLinux, etc.)
• Arch Linux and derivatives (EndeavourOS, CachyOS, etc.)
• Manjaro and Big Linux
• OpenSUSE (Leap, Slowroll and Tumbleweed)
• Fedora-based Atomic Distributions (Atomic Fedora, rpm-ostree Universal Blue images like Bazzite and Aurora)
• Solus
• Deepin
• SteamOS, Bluefin Dakota, Gnome OS and KDE Linux

Only x86 computers are supported, as other architectures lack support from most packages that are components of LinuxToys, even though the app itself may run on ARM devices. Support for non-systemd init systems is limited, and some features of the app cannot be offered for them.

Installation

Automatic Installation

The simplest way to install LinuxToys is by using the automated installation script. Open your terminal and run:

curl -fsSL https://linux.toys/install.sh | bash

This will automatically pick the correct package option for your distribution and install it.

Manual Installation

If you prefer to review the script before running it, you can download and execute it manually:

curl -fsSLJO https://linux.toys/install.sh
chmod +x install.sh
./install.sh

You may also pick the package that suits your system best yourself.

Official Repositories

LinuxToys is available in several official and community repositories for easier package management.

Ubuntu (PPA)

You can install LinuxToys from our official PPA on Launchpad:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:psygreg/linuxtoys
sudo apt update
sudo apt install linuxtoys

Fedora / RHEL / OpenSUSE (COPR)

Packages are available via Fedora COPR for the latest releases of AlmaLinux, Fedora and RHEL.

For Standard Systems:

sudo dnf copr enable psygreg/linuxtoys
sudo dnf install linuxtoys

For Atomic Systems (Fedora Atomic, Universal Blue):

curl -fsSL https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/psygreg/linuxtoys/repo/fedora-$(rpm -E %fedora)/psygreg-linuxtoys-fedora-$(rpm -E %fedora).repo | sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/psygreg-linuxtoys-fedora-$(rpm -E %fedora).repo
sudo rpm-ostree install linuxtoys

Arch Linux (AUR)

Arch Linux users can install the linuxtoys-bin package from the AUR:

git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/linuxtoys-bin.git
cd linuxtoys-bin
makepkg -si

SteamOS and usage without installation

You may use the AppImage available at the latest release to use LinuxToys without requiring installation. For SteamOS, the automatic installer will integrate this AppImage using Gear Lever.

MCP Agent Server

LinuxToys ships with an opt-in MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that lets AI agents use the app on your behalf, like a user would: browse and search the catalog, read app pages (descriptions, screenshots, donation and purchase links), install and remove apps, clean up the leftover data of uninstalled Flatpak apps, run the full system update or LinuxToys' own self-update, translate descriptions, and change settings such as automatic updates, automatic bug reports and language.

• Off by default. Turn it on from the app menu (☰) with the MCP Agent Server toggle, or let an agent do it following the bundled linuxtoys-mcp agent skill.
• Runs as a systemd user service (linuxtoys-mcp.service): installed with the app, enabled only when you toggle it, and started automatically with your session from then on. It never registers the GUI's application identity, so the app keeps launching normally through every other method.
• Your credentials stay yours. When an installation needs root, the usual askpass password dialog appears on your screen — the agent never sees or handles credentials. The server listens only on 127.0.0.1, and agents authenticate with a per-install token stored at ~/.config/linuxtoys/mcp-token.

Agents connect over MCP Streamable HTTP at http://127.0.0.1:7420/mcp (port configurable in ~/.config/linuxtoys/settings.conf, [mcp] port). The bundled skill teaches agents how to enable the server and use every tool; you can also install it manually to any agent that supports skills — it is bundled inside the app (/usr/share/linuxtoys/app/mcp_skill/SKILL.md) and written to detected agents' skill directories when you enable the server.

Suggestions, feature requests and other topics

For suggestions, feature requests and issue reports that for any reason are not possible to send through the LinuxToys bug reporting system, please refer to the Discussions.

Development GIT

For running the application from source, please follow these steps.

Prerequisites

Ensure your system has the necessary dependencies installed. Those will include build dependencies and python virtual environment setup.

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt install -y bash git curl wget zenity appstream libappstream5 python3 python3-gi python3-requests libgtk-3-0 gir1.2-gtk-3.0 gir1.2-vte-2.91 gir1.2-appstream-1.0 cargo python3-dev python3-maturin python3-venv pkgconf libgtk-3-dev patchelf

Fedora/RHEL:

sudo dnf install -y bash git curl wget zenity appstream appstream-data python3 python3-gobject python3-requests gtk3 vte291 cargo python3-devel maturin gtk3-devel pkgconf-pkg-config patchelf

Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S --noconfirm bash git curl wget zenity appstream archlinux-appstream-data python python-gobject python-requests gtk3 vte3 cargo maturin pkgconf patchelf

OpenSUSE:

sudo zypper in -y bash git curl wget zenity libappstream5 python3 python3-gobject python3-requests gtk3 libvte-2_91-0 typelib-1_0-Vte-2.91 typelib-1_0-AppStream-1_0 cargo python3-devel python3-maturin gtk3-devel pkgconf-pkg-config patchelf

Solus:

sudo eopkg it -y git curl wget zenity appstream python3 python-gobject python-requests libvte rust python-devel pkg-config gtk3-devel patchelf

For Solus, you will have to install maturin using pip on the virtual environment you will set up in the next steps.

Cloning and Running

Clone the repository:

git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/psygreg/linuxtoys.git
cd linuxtoys

Build rust libraries for development

Start by setting up a python virtual environment for maturin, from the repository root:

python3 -m venv --system-site-packages .venv
source .venv/bin/activate

Then compile the libraries with the script:

./build-rust.sh develop

The compiled rust library for development and testing, virtual environment files and building artifacts are automatically ignored by the repository if you follow this procedure correctly.

Run the application:

p3/linuxtoys.py

For developers who wish to contribute, check our documentation, please refer to the Contribution Guidelines.

To distribute your app through LinuxToys, check out the Developer Portal.