You can still do that on Linux. Just download it and run. You can even compile it from source if that’s your thing.

However, because there is a much greater variety of Linux distros and dependencies compared to Windows or MacOS versions, it’s better to either have a Flatpak, AppImage, or package from your distro’s repo. That way you’re ensured that it will work without too much fiddling around.

Do you know about AppImages? Seems like those meet the need you’re complaining about.

You still have to set the executable flag for them, but you can do that through the graphic user interface. No need to open a terminal.

I don’t really like the way software installation is centralized on Linux.

you have to interact with their ‘trusted sources’.

I would prefer if it was easier to simply run an executable file on my personal Linux machine.

I’m sorry but which is it? Do you want centralized software installation (this is literally how all of Microsoft Windows works.) Or do you want independent release software? (Those are the ‘trusted sources’ you seem to detest.)

And there are plenty of programs that run as an independent file on Linux, installers even. They just aren’t labeled .exe.

Either you want Linux and want independent control of your desktop system and environment or you want to be spoonfed everything as a Windows or OSX user. So which is it??

Developers can just make a flatpak, publish it on flathub (or their own repo if they want, but ugh) and that’s it. Then you install the app through GUI package manager or by executing flatpak install <package name> command in your favorite terminal.

Software Installation is all but centralized on Linux. Sure, there is your store or package manager, but both Apple and Windows do have that, too. But you can always add any source you want to that store (flatpak is great), find an AppImage, some doubious install script, find your own packages and manually install them (like .deb), use Steam or sometimes, like with Blender, download, decompress and run it.

You can also just download any binary file you find online and run it. Or use any install.sh script you happen to find anywhere.

Package managers are simply a convenient offer to manage packages with their dynamically linked libraries and keep them up to date (important for security). But it’s still just an offer.

The difference between a package manager and an app store is that the package manager allows you to pick your own sources. You can even run your own repository if you wanted to.

That is part of the deal with Debian. You get stable software… but you only get stable software. If you want bleeding edge software, you’ll have to install it manually to /usr/local, build from source and hope that you have the dependencies, or containerize it with Distrobox.

If you go to a butcher, don’t complain about the lack of vegan options.