Linux beginner here. Whats snaps?
It’s a package format that bundles all required libraries, that way you don’t run into the issue with program A requiring library version <1.1 and program B requiring library >1.3.
It leads to larger binaries because these dependencies are bundled, but it solves the issue with old/minimally maintained software not working on new OS versions because they depend on an ancient version of libssl or something.
Snaps is Ubuntu/Canonicals proprietary package format which is mostly considered a worse alternative to flatpak (another package format) with no real advantages on desktops that Canonical is trying to force on users
Snaps are not a proprietary package format.
The backend is proprietary
The webserver that canonical uses to distribute other people’s snaps is, and that’s it. APKs aren’t proprietary just because Google runs the Play store.
If you don’t want to interact with canonical’s servers you can download the snap files from literally anywhere else and install them manually so you don’t have to touch a single line of non open source code.
“I am more like a flatpak guy myself”
sudo apt purge -y snapd && sudo apt install -y gnome-software-plugin-flatpak && flatpak remote-add flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
For everything else Fedora is looking good. PopOS has potential.
Why does everyone hate snaps? I mainly just use Ubuntu for work, but snaps seemed to work well enough.
Cause Snap is proprietary and the repo is controlled only by Canonical/Ubuntu. Flatpack on the other hand allows for third parry repos. And then one might even preference a classical install because ironically its snappier - faster - especially on oldee setups
But you can install multiple app stores, right? This is just one. My understanding is that it also adds sandboxing to any snaps you installed.
Snaps have sandboxing but only on Ubuntu I think. Flatpaks have sandboxing too but that should work in every distro.
Snap is not proprietary.
The snapcraft webserver backend is closed source but everything snap adjacent that touches your computer is open source, and you can distribute snaps and install them without using the snap store
They are 1. Slow on launch and on boot. 2. Very opaque and offer little control. 3. They don’t integrate well. 4. Proprietary. 5. Probably most importantly, Canonical has made 0 progress and demonstrated 0 interest in improving issues 1-4.
What the did with Firefox is a war crime…
BUT, the other day I had to instal DBeaver and using snap was for sure the easiest/fastest way
You can just choose not to use it. They still release everything through their regular repositories for now.
FOR NOW
The apt package of KeePassXC would fail repeatedly to recognize my hardware token. The snap package ironically works like a charm.
I don’t get it
The joke is based on the fact that Ubuntu forces snaps and most people agree that they suck
I don’t know how they suck and didn’t use them. I install everything either from ebuilds or build myself.
Snaps are great.
