Yum Extender NG: A Graphical Front-end For DNF5, DNF And YUM

In this guide, we will explain what Yum Extender NG is and how to install and use Yumex-ng in Linux to install, update, remove and manage software packages graphically.

Introduction

DNF5 and its predecessors, such as DNF and YUM, are command-line package managers for RPM-based Linux distributions like Fedora, RHEL, CentOS Stream, AlmaLinux, and Rocky Linux.

However, for those who prefer a graphical user interface, there are a few GUI front-ends available for DNF5. These frontends provide a user-friendly interface for package management tasks, including installation, removal, and updates of software packages.

Yum Extender NG or Yumex-ng is one such front-end for DNF5, DNF and YUM, which provides an intuitive interface for managing packages in a user-friendly way.

What is Yum Extender NG?

Yum Extender NG (aka Yumex-ng) is a graphical user interface (GUI) for popular package managers like DNF5, DNF, and YUM, used in RPM-based Linux distributions. It offers an intuitive way to install, remove, and manage software packages on the system.

Yum Extender NG is an upgraded and rewritten version of the old Yum Extender (or Yumex) with a more modern look and feel, utilizing GTK4/Libadwaita. The "NG" in Yum Extender NG stands for "Next Gen."

Yumex-ng simplifies the process of installing, removing, upgrading, and updating packages with a simple yet fully functional GUI. It’s designed for users who may not be comfortable using the command line interface of DNF5.

With Yumex-ng, users can browse and search for software packages, view detailed information about each package, and easily install or remove them with just a few clicks.

One notable feature of Yumex-ng is its ability to automatically handle dependencies. When a user selects a package to install, Yumex-ng will detect and install any required dependencies, saving time and effort compared to manually installing each package and its dependencies separately.

It also offers filtering and sorting options, enabling users to quickly find the software they need based on criteria such as package name, category, or repository. Users can customize the package list view by choosing which columns to display and sorting the packages in ascending or descending order.

Another useful feature of Yumex-ng is its support for multiple repositories. Users can easily add and manage additional software repositories, which is helpful if they need to install software not available in their system's default repositories.

It is highly customizable, with many options for tweaking the interface and application behavior. Users can adjust the font and color scheme, enable or disable features, and even customize the command-line options used by Yumex-ng when running in the background.

Yumex-ng is a free, open-source program written in Python. It can be used on any Linux distribution that supports DNF5. DNF and YUM package managers.

Install Yum Extender NG / Yumex-ng in Fedora Linux

I tested the following steps on latest Fedora 42 Workstation edition. I hope this will work on other Fedora versions as well.

Yum Extender NG, or Yumex-ng, can be installed via Fedora Copr repository.

Add the Yumex-ng copr repository using command:

sudo dnf copr enable timlau/yumex-ng

Install Yumex using command:

sudo dnf install yumex

If the old yumex-dnf package is installed, it will automatically remove it from your system.

How to Use Yum Extender NG?

Yum Extender NG usage is very simple and straight forward.

Launch Yumex from the dash or menu.

This will open the yumex-ng graphical user interface (GUI), allowing you to manage your system's packages.

You can also launch yumex-ng from the command line by entering the following command:

sudo yumex

Here is how the default interface of Yumex-ng looks like in Fedora 42.

With yumex-ng installed and configured, you can now start using it to manage your system's packages. Browse through the available packages, select the ones you want to install or update, and click on the 'Apply' button to make the changes.

Filter Packages

By default, Yumex-ng will show only the installed packages. The installed packages will be shown in green color.

If you want to show all other packages, click the "Select Package filters" icon on the top left of the Yumex-ng interface.

Now you can select either Updates to display the packages that need to be updated or All (both installed and not-installed) from filters section. I am going to list all packages.

Now choose any non-installed package and click the "Apply" button to install it.

Display Flatpaks

With the new version, you can also browse the installed flatpak applications as well.

To display flatpak apps, click the "Flatpaks" section on the top. If you have installed any flatpak applications, they will be shown here. If not, you will just see an empty screen.

To install new a flatpak app, click the Search button, choose or enter the name of the package to install, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Before installing flatpaks, you should have added a remote repository as described in the Flatpak installation guide.

Queue Section

This section shows the list of applications marked for installation, updation and deletion.

View Repositories

To view the repositories, click the three horizontal bar icon and select Preferences option.

Navigate to the Repositories section, where you can enable or disable repositories.

Conclusion

Yumex-ng is a user-friendly package management tool that greatly simplifies the process of installing, removing, and managing software packages on RPM-based Linux systems. Whether you're new to Linux or an experienced user, Yumex-ng is worth exploring.

By following the steps in this guide, you can quickly install and configure Yumex-ng on your Linux system and start managing your packages with ease.