Exploring the new Flatpak and Snap package formats
Conclusions
Flatpak and Snap shake the foundations of the package management system principle, causing tremors among the stalwarts of all current Linux distributions. At first glance, the idea behind these upstart package systems makes good sense: If you are constantly dealing with backports, or if you have to resolve package dependencies manually, provisioning independent containers with applications is certainly an appealing concept.
On closer inspection, however, it turns out that the principle still has some rough edges. Snap and Flatpak are pursuing similar goals and are basically competing approaches. Fedora, the driving force behind Flatpak, insists that their system is more at home on desktops, and Canonical, maintainer of the Snap, touts the benefits of Snap as a tool for server rooms.
The user groups forming up around the Flatpak and Snap communities seem eerily similar to the split between RPM and Dpkg that has inconvenienced the Linux world for decades. It might be more sensible to agree on a common approach and to pursue it. But this hope seems futile given the dynamics of the open source world.
Infos
- RPM: http://rpm.org
- Dpkg: https://wiki.debian.org/dpkg
- Flatpak: http://flatpak.org
- Snap: https://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/snappy
- Cgroups: https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/cgroup-v1/cgroups.txt
- Namespaces: https://lwn.net/Articles/531114/
- Docker: https://www.docker.com
- LXC: https://linuxcontainers.org
- Flatpak backport für Debian Jessie: https://packages.debian.org/jessie-backports/flatpak
- Flatpak for Open Suse Tumbleweed: https://software.opensuse.org/package/flatpak
Hello World
D-Bus example: http://media.wiley.com/product_ancillary/30/04717761/DOWNLOAD/776130code12(freedesktop).tar.gz- Other Flatpak examples: http://flatpak.org/developer.html
- Snappy Ubuntu Core: https://developer.ubuntu.com/core
- Snapcraft: http://snapcraft.io
- Installing Snapcraft und Snapd: http://snapcraft.io/docs/core/install
- Snap documentation: http://snapcraft.io/docs/build-snaps/
- Snap interfaces: http://snapcraft.io/docs/reference/interfaces
- Snap Store: https://uappexplorer.com/apps?type=snappy
« Previous 1 2 3 4
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.
-
Linux Usage Increases in Two Key Areas
If market share is your thing, you'll be happy to know that Linux is on the rise in two areas that, if they keep climbing, could have serious meaning for Linux's future.
-
Vulnerability Discovered in xz Libraries
An urgent alert for Fedora 40 has been posted and users should pay attention.
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs
-
Juno Computers Launches Another Linux Laptop
If you're looking for a powerhouse laptop that runs Ubuntu, the Juno Computers Neptune 17 v6 should be on your radar.