The easiest way to install Linux apps on Chrome OS these days is to find what’s known as a Debian file — a special kind of installation package that ends in a .deb extension.

For example, when you click the Linux link on the Steam download page, it saves a deb file to your computer. These are installation packages, much like .msi or .exe files on Windows.

Opening a .deb file on Chrome OS Canary (source) On most Debian-based Linux distributions, users can double-click on .deb packages to install them.

Installing Steam on Elementary OS While Elementary OS is based on Debian/Ubuntu, newer versions of Elementary don't automatically have the application required to open .deb files.

Linux’s RPM/deb split could be replaced by Flatpak vs. snap Red Hat developer's Flatpak installs apps on Fedora, Ubuntu, and other distros.