Despite putting so much weight behind Snap, Ubuntu is losing the race to be the ‘universal Linux packaging’.
While distros of all kinds are adopting Fedora’s Flatpak, Ubuntu’s Snap is also being rejected by Ubuntu-based distros like Linux Mint and Elementary OS.
Nitrux, Vanilla, gLinux, and many other distros have ditched Ubuntu for Debian, and Snap probably played a role in the decision.
This constant rejection has frustrated the Snap team, which worked hard to force people to like Snap by disguising the Snap app as a suitable package.
Therefore, in a recent discussion at UbuntuCon, Canonical management decided to phase out Snap development and its integration into Ubuntu Core.
After initial resistance, some Linux users began to take a liking to Snap, just as some became attached to Unity. This is a terrible situation for us. From Ubuntu One to Unity and Mir, we’ve seen abandoned projects in the past. We can do it again for the greater good.
Development has ceased immediately and work will begin to separate Snap from Ubuntu. The next LTS release, 24.04 Naughty Nightingale, will see no trace of Snap.
Not everyone is happy with the decision, of course.
In an anonymous Reddit post, a Snap developer shares:
Snap is a craft and we’ve crafted Snap to perfection. We’ve worked so hard that if someone searches for ‘How to install xyz application on Linux’, Snapcraft’s pages suggest using the Snap package first. And now our attempt is being rejected in a snap.
Canonical Management is aware of the concern. They are considering open sourcing Snap so others can pick up the project to continue development like Ubuntu Touch and Unity.
Canonical revealed that if anyone wants to develop an ‘Ubuntu Snap Remix’, we might even consider giving it official flavor status.
it remains to be decided All Snap fans are in shock and denial. But the decision has been taken and this date will become a part of history. Enter the date.
You can read the official discussion and announcement on the below page.
