This PR significantly overhauls the "Adding and managing software" section of Fedora Quick Docs, bringing it up to date for currently supported releases (Fedora 41 and newer, using DNF5) and restructuring the navigation for clarity.
*Navigation restructure*
The section is reorganised into three clear areas: core package management topics, a third-party software subsection, and a new "Installing popular applications" group. Topics covering specific applications (VLC, Spotify, Zoom, Chromium, Java, fonts, desktop environments) are grouped separately from package management mechanics. openh264.adoc is retired and its content is merged into the multimedia plugins page. Also, I separated out legal content and put that under the FAQ section and did away with the remaining content in packagekit-not-found.adoc because this was consolidated into some newer topics described below.
*New topics*
I added several new topics:
- Third-party software: overview of the distinction between Fedora release software and third-party sources, why software may be absent (patents, licensing, unpackaged), and safe usage practices
- Flatpak / Flathub: installing and managing Flatpak applications, covering both GNOME Software and KDE Discover
- Snap Store: installing and managing Snap applications
- AppImage: running portable AppImage applications
- Language package managers: pip, npm, Cargo, gem, and go install, with emphasis on isolation (virtual environments) and the preference for Fedora-packaged versions
- ~~Managing software on immutable Fedora editions: rpm-ostree layering, Flatpak as the preferred app delivery method, and Toolbox for development environments~~
- Creating a DNF repository mirror: using dnf reposync to set up a local mirror, serving it with Apache, configuring clients, and keeping it current with a systemd timer
- Fedora and software patents: split out from the retired packagekit-not-found.adoc into its own FAQ topic
*Updated topics*
- autoupdates.adoc: restructured (decision first, setup second), dnf-automatic.timer updated for DNF5 (single timer replaces the old per-mode timers), machine → system throughout, auter section retained and updated
- package-management.adoc: rewritten to be a concise intro rather than a stub with broken links
- securing-the-system-by-keeping-it-up-to-date.adoc: recommends dnf offline-upgrade over updating a live system; redundant automatic updates section replaced with an xref to autoupdates.adoc
- installing-java.adoc: Java version updated (LTS: 21, 25; latest: 26); JDK components list pruned of tools removed in JDK 9–14; modern tools added (jshell, jlink, jpackage, jdeps, jhsdb); dead links fixed (Freenode → Libera.Chat, Mailman → Fedora Discussion, openjdk.java.net → openjdk.org)
- installing-plugins-for-playing-movies-and-music.adoc: updated for F41+; OpenH264 content merged in; RPM Fusion noted for extended codec support; immutable editions section added; Fedora Workstation multimedia group updated
- installing-chromium-or-google-chrome-browsers.adoc: DNF4 old-syntax block removed; chromium-freeworld from RPM Fusion noted for users needing full codec support; screenshots updated for current GNOME Software and Plasma Discover UI
- fonts.adoc: rewritten for current Fedora; GNOME Font Viewer bug note removed; KDE section updated for Plasma 6; RPM Fusion font source note corrected; code block formatting fixed
- finding-and-installing-linux-applications.adoc: repository overview section removed (now links to dedicated topics); GNOME and KDE GUI walkthroughs updated with fresh screenshots on Fedora 42 with GNOME 50 and Plasma 6; category descriptions corrected to match actual UI
- switching-desktop-environments.adoc : renamed "Installing and Switching Desktop Environments"; updated for Fedora 41+ (single dnf environment list command) --- worth noting that although I could install switchdesk it didn't really work properly in my test lab.
- fedora-and-software-patents.adoc: dead links removed (Fluendo, 2007–2010 Red Hat press releases, old mailing list); MP3 no longer referenced as patent-encumbered (patents expired 2017)
*Style and consistency pass*
All topics in the section were run through the Red Hat Vale linter. Changes include: contractions expanded, passive voice reduced, heading capitalisation normalised (sentence case for H2+), code blocks annotated with [source,bash,console] and $/$ sudo prompts, e.g./i.e. replaced with for example/that is, and Fedora-specific vocabulary added to the Vale exceptions file.
*Screenshots*
All screenshots in finding-and-installing-linux-applications.adoc are retaken on Fedora 42 (GNOME 50 and Plasma 6), replacing images from the older Fedora releases.
Reviewed-on: #969
The content in page "Creating RPM Packages"
has been subsumed under "Package Tutorial: GNU Hello"
in the Package Maintainer Docs.
Thus, the page is removed
and all references to it are pointed to the Packaging Tutorial.
"Creating RPM Packages" has one subpage,
which is moved to a top-level page.
In a separate commit for the Package Maintainer Docs,
the url of "Creating RPM Packages" will be listed as an alias
of the "Package Tutorial" so that external links will keep working.
