External applications

src/SUMMARY.md

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
       - [sndio](./config/media/sndio.md)
    - [Bluetooth](./config/bluetooth.md)
    - [TeX Live](./config/texlive.md)
+   - [External Applications](./config/external-applications.md)
    - [Printing](./config/print/index.md)
       - [Installing Printing Drivers](./config/print/drivers.md)
       - [Configuring a New Printer](./config/print/config.md)

src/config/external-applications.md

@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+# External Applications
+
+## Programming Languages
+
+The Void repositories have a number of Python and Lua packages. If possible,
+install packages from the Void repositories or consider packaging the library or
+application you need. Packaging your application allows for easier system
+maintenance and can benefit other Void Linux users, so consider making a pull
+request for it. The contribution instructions can be found
+[here](https://github.com/void-linux/void-packages/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md).
+
+To keep packages smaller, Void has separate `devel` packages for header files
+and development tools. If you install a library or application via a language's
+package manager (e.g. `pip`, `gem`), or compile one from source, you may need to
+install the programming language's `-devel` package. This is specially relevant
+for `musl` libc users, due to pre-built binaries usually targeting `glibc`
+instead.
+
+| Language | Package Manager                | Void Package    |
+|----------|--------------------------------|-----------------|
+| Python3  | pip, anaconda, virtualenv, etc | `python3-devel` |
+| Python2  | pip, anaconda, virtualenv, etc | `python2-devel` |
+| Ruby     | gem                            | `ruby-devel`    |
+| lua      | luarocks                       | `lua-devel`     |
+
+## Restricted Packages
+
+Some packages have legal restrictions on their distribution (e.g. Discord), may
+be too large, or have another condition that makes it difficult for Void to
+distribute. These packages have build templates, but the packages themselves are
+not built or distributed. As such, they must be built locally. For more
+information see the page on [restricted
+packages](../repositories/restricted.md).
+
+## Non-x86_64 Arch
+
+The Void build system runs on x86_64 servers, both for compiling and cross
+compiling packages. However, some packages (e.g. `libreoffice`) do not support
+cross-compilation. These packages have to be built locally on a computer running
+the same architecture and libc as the system on which the package is to be used.
+For building packages, see the [building instructions](../packages/building.md).
+
+## Flatpak
+
+Flatpak is another method for installing external proprietary applications on
+Linux. For information on using Flatpak with Void Linux, see the [official
+Flatpak documentation](https://flatpak.org/setup/Void%20Linux/).
+
+> Flatpak's sandboxing will not necessarily protect you from any security and/or
+> privacy-violating features of proprietary software.
+
+### Troubleshooting
+
+Some apps may not function properly (e.g. not being able to access the host
+system's files). Some of these issues can be fixed by installing one or more of
+the `xdg-desktop-portal`, `xdg-desktop-portal-gtk`, `xdg-user-dirs`,
+`xdg-user-dirs-gtk` or `xdg-utils` packages.
+
+Some Flatpaks require D-Bus. If you are using a window manager (e.g. i3wm), you
+can launch your window manager with
+[dbus-run-session(1)](https://man.voidlinux.org/dbus-run-session.1). Some
+Flatpaks can also require [Pulseaudio](./media/pulseaudio.md).
+
+## Octave Packages
+
+Some Octave packages require external dependencies to compile and run. For
+example, to build the control package, you must install the `openblas-devel`,
+`libgomp-devel`, `libgfortran-devel`, `gcc-fortran`, and `gcc` packages.