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Linux Mint drops Ubuntu Snap packages

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Re: Linux Mint drops Ubuntu Snap packages

#12

Post by kd913 »

The reason for why the backend for the snap store hasn't been opensourced has been explained multiple times. Namely that it would be expensive to open source it with little benefit in return.

Canonical already spent a large amount of investment opensourcing launchpad and nobody other than them operate it. Mainly because the majority of the costs are for operating an instance which most other distros aren't willing to spend. Not even Mint operate run or operate their own launchpad infrastructure. They experienced large backlash back then, open sourced it and nobody contributed.

The same problem applies here. Snap store specifically from what I gather is a bunch of operational machinery that doesn't make sense without also operating launchpad. Such a cost operating would benefit nobody but Canonical because nobody else is bothering footing the bill to run an instance.

Second aspect that they wanted to avoid was the same pitfalls that they experienced previously with ppas and now being experienced with flatpak. Namely they want one location to find software, and one location to serve software. If users have to use the command line to add a external repo that has unfetted access, then that defeats any usability gains. That and the whole aspects of malware/trust goes out the window.

I will remind people that the most popular PPA to this day is a Java PPA being run by some 3rd party that doesn't offer Java. That PPA has root access to thousands of machines.

Re: Linux Mint drops Ubuntu Snap packages

#15

Post by ncr100 »

psanford wrote: post #7

From the linked announcement: https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=3906 > Applications in this store cannot be patched, or pinned. You can’t audit them, hold them, modify them or even point snap to a different store. You’ve as much empowerment with this as if you were using proprietary software, i.e. none. This is in effect similar to a commercial proprietary solution, but with two major differences: It runs as root, and it…

Is there no way to sandbox these packages - "have you cake and eat it too?" I'm a noob to modern Linux.

Edit: Are snaps images? ...like containers?

Edit 2: answer:

> mounted dynamically by the host operating system, together with declarative metadata that is interpreted by the snap system to set up an appropriately shaped secure sandbox or container for that application

Re: Linux Mint drops Ubuntu Snap packages

#16

Post by fractal618 »

jrockway wrote: post #6

I've been kind of disappointed by Snap. It seemed like it was a way to always have the latest version of software you care about available, but in practice, nobody updates their Snaps. I used it to get a newer version of Go, and while it is more recent than what comes with Ubuntu, it's still not the latest version. Apparently Some Guy updates it on a volunteer basis when he remembers, so it's nearly useless. Even if…

Some will argue that 32ms is negligible, but I don't believe it is.

Re: Linux Mint drops Ubuntu Snap packages

#17

Post by tssva »

Spivak wrote: post #3

Canonical's decision to abuse the power of apt packages to make it some "universal installer" is kinda gross. I get the thought but I would consider is surprising that, say, installing python-* actually installed pip and ran pip install. This is totally going to break Gnome Software's UI since it has plugins for snap, flatpack, apt, dnf, pacman, etc.. and making it so that Chromium from apt is doing a run-round with…

Canonical solution is to remove the Gnome Software store and instead install the Snap Store which although based upon the Gnome Software doesn't support plugins for apt, flatpak, etc.

Re: Linux Mint drops Ubuntu Snap packages

#19

Post by rocky1138 »

ColanR wrote: post #5

I've been putting off my next OS reinstallation, but I think I'll be moving away from Ubuntu and over to Mint this time.

Pop!_OS is another choice to consider. Apparently they are sticking with Ubuntu but are stripping the Snap stuff before pushing any updates.

Re: Linux Mint drops Ubuntu Snap packages

#20

Post by solarkraft »

ncr100 wrote: post #15
psanford wrote: post #7

From the linked announcement: https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=3906 > Applications in this store cannot be patched, or pinned. You can’t audit them, hold them, modify them or even point snap to a different store. You’ve as much empowerment with this as if you were using proprietary software, i.e. none. This is in effect similar to a commercial proprietary solution, but with two major differences: It runs as root, and it…

Is there no way to sandbox these packages - "have you cake and eat it too?" I'm a noob to modern Linux. Edit: Are snaps images? ...like containers? Edit 2: answer: > mounted dynamically by the host operating system, together with declarative metadata that is interpreted by the snap system to set up an appropriately shaped secure sandbox or container for that application

The main (and better supported) competitor is Flatpak, which at least doesn't have the terrible marketing.
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