Ubuntu Software only shows snap app's without any explanations or advices

[Coeur Noir]

Hi,

for a moment now, I noticed on Ubuntu 16.04 and 18.04 that Ubuntu Software only show snap app's.

Problem : there is no easy to read « label » or « warning » regarding snap, and how they can be « configured ».

Consequence : many users and not only beginners ask help on forums because their FireFox or Gimp can't access such folder, such partition, such usb key, because they can't find config' files in usual place, because such app launches slowly, other looks out of place, other is not localized in their language, and so on…

What I may expect :
- enable / disable snap listing,
- when snap app shown : the word snap bold in its name or a label or a flashy header that leads to advices about how to correctly set and use snap,
- by default, disable snap in LTS version ( where apt/deb and official repositories sound careful ),
- or give priority to legacy packaging and show snap only when nothing else available for such app.

I consider this as a bug because it gets many users « lost » with a not so good experience with common and often already known and loved softwares.

I know snap keeps improving but they may not provide the same reliable and predictable experience as « legacy » packaging - hence the LTS note.

[sibe39 (sibe39)]

I agree !

Canonical should not impose snap, this should remain a secondary alternative that should not be prioritized over classic apt repositories.

A snap should only appear if there is no alternative!

Snap has a lot of inconvenience.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Olivier Tilloy (osomon)]

There are definitely rough edges in some snap apps as they are today, but many others work just fine out of the box, and an end-user shouldn't have to know what a snap is in the first place, much like regular end-users today don't know what a debian package is.

The rough edges have to be polished and bugs addressed, but this shouldn't hold back from offering/promoting snaps in Ubuntu Software.

On top of additional security, snaps are very much about empowering upstream developers/editors to control exactly which version of their software will be delivered to users.

[Coeur Noir (coeur-noir)]

Hello Olivier,

My « issue » here really is not about snap.

But about software center that do not clearly show when app is a snap and therefore let people install them without pointing to a 3-4 steps pieces of advice about how correctly setting a snap.

Nowadays end-users learn they installed a snap by a very wrong way : because their favourite app no longer works as expected. Most of the time it's just wrong settings about authorisations and confinement.

So I really think some highlight and warning in software store would ensure people install snap in a more cautious, conscient and efficient way and would avoid most disappointments.

So no opinion here but an improvement wish for software stores.

Now a question : is it normal I no longer see regular legacy packages in Ubuntu-gnome-software ?
Only snap ?

[michel2652 (michel2652)]

I agree !

Canonical should not impose snap, this should remain a secondary alternative that should not be prioritized over classic apt repositories.

A snap should only appear if there is no alternative!

Snap has a lot of inconvenience.

[Coeur Noir (coeur-noir)]

( are there bots here ? )

Issue is about app-store not being clear nor helpful enough.

One may end with confined app without knowing how to tailor it to his•her needs.

[Coeur Noir (coeur-noir)]

Is this a better place for discussion : https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-software/issues/451 ?

[michel2652 (michel2652)]

( are there bots here ? )
No, I'm not a bot.
:D

[lotuspsychje (lotuspsychje)]

I agree:

Please seperate snap packages installs from the gnome-software
or any GUI software centre on all ubuntu flavors

The current problem is first time ubuntu users are not very aware
they are installing apt packages or snap packages.

Perhaps create a seperate snap software centre where the end user has the choice
to install snaps instead of having default snaps in the system.

see my duplicate bug #1799165