--- title: A shift to the Linux app store experience description: This whitepaper will take a closer look at how software developers targeting the desktop market, in particular, can benefit from moving their applications to a Linux app store. url: https://canonical.com/blog/a-shift-to-the-linux-app-store-experience?format=md --- 1. [Blog](https://canonical.com/blog) 2. Article --- [Alex Cattle](https://canonical.com/blog/author/cattleaej "More about Alex Cattle") 30 July 2019 # A shift to the Linux app store experience [App Stores](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/app-stores) [IoT](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/iot) [Linux](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/linux) [snapcraft.io](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/snapcraft-io) [Ubuntu](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/ubuntu) --- Share the article Linux software developers historically have faced a number of challenges including fragmentation, distribution complexity and a lack of metrics into the success of their applications. Once an application is built, the journey does not end there – for companies and individual developers creating apps, thought needs to be given to promoting their software for maximum visibility, usage and customer experience. > Applications within the ‘Featured’ section of Linux app stores can see up to 40% install growth within two weeks of being featured. Self-contained application formats like AppImage, Flatpak and snaps and the shift to an application store model offer a viable, data-driven alternative to the classic methods. This new approach can help overcome some of the historical challenges while improving visibility to enterprises and end users. This whitepaper will take a closer look at how software developers targeting the desktop market, in particular, can benefit from moving their applications to a Linux app store including: * An evaluation of the packaging formats, distributions and considerations that software developers should review. * The adoption of application stores: how software developers can maximise their presence and apply lessons from other industries. * A series of case studies highlighting successful apps that have an optimised store presence including Spotify, Visual Studio Code and Skype. To view the whitepaper, fill out the following form: ## Sign up for our newsletter Get the latest Canonical news and updates in your inbox. Work email: \*I agree to receive information about Canonical's products and services. By submitting this form, I confirm that I have read and agree to [Canonical's Privacy Policy](https://canonical.com/legal/dataprivacy). Sign up ## Share on --- ## Related posts [### Arduino® VENTUNO™ Q is available for pre-order with Ubuntu pre-installed](https://canonical.com/blog/arduino-ventuno-q-is-available-for-pre-order-with-ubuntu-pre-installed) London, UK – August 25, 2026 – Following our initial collaboration announcement in March 2026, Canonical and Arduino (a subsidiary of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.) are excited... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 25 August 2026 [### Advantech AOM-2721 is now Ubuntu Certified](https://canonical.com/blog/advantech-aom-2721-ubuntu-certified) Canonical announces that the Advantech AOM-2721 is officially joining the list of Ubuntu Certified Hardware. [Mikhail Khazov](https://canonical.com/blog/author/khazov-m) 13 August 2026 [### Canonical becomes Gold Sponsor of Trifecta Tech Foundation](https://canonical.com/blog/canonical-becomes-gold-sponsor-of-trifecta-tech-foundation) Canonical is pleased to announce it is now a Gold Sponsor of the Trifecta Tech Foundation, a non-profit that creates open source building blocks for critical infrastructure... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 30 June 2026 [### Ubuntu Summit 26.04: connected by open source](https://canonical.com/blog/ubuntu-summit-26-04-connected-by-open-source) What an incredible experience! Ubuntu Summit 26.04 has officially drawn to a close, but the energy from our global community is still buzzing – in the comments section, on... [ilvipero](https://canonical.com/blog/author/ilvipero) 22 June 2026