The difference is merely how this thing works vs how this thing is used. And the glue factor between the two is ops.

Between the developer and the user, there should be the maintainer role. Someone that took a software and make it run on a specific system. That requires familiarity with the system internal and build systems.

This is why packages managers like in linux distributions are a great solution. A working solution is often just a command away. App stores could be good too, if not for the gatekeeping effects.