Ubuntu Flavors Agree to Stop Using Flatpak
In a surprise move, Ubuntu developers have agreed to stop shipping Flatpak, preinstalled Flatpak apps, and any plugins needed to install Flatpak apps through a GUI software tool in the default package across all eight of Ubuntu’s official flavors, starting with the upcoming Ubuntu 23.04 release.
Ubuntu says the decision will ‘improve the out-of-the-box Ubuntu experience’ for new users by making it clearer about what the “Ubuntu experience” is.
How-To Geek:
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Kubuntu, Lubuntu, and Other Ubuntu Flavors Are Making a Big Change
Canonical is the primary company behind Ubuntu Linux, but it also develops the Snap format, a container and distribution technology for Linux applications. Snap has proven controversial in the Linux ecosystem, thanks to its centralized design and occasional poor performance. Beyond the reach of Ubuntu, its primary competitor is Flatpak, which many Linux distributions install by default — sometimes alongside Snap, and other times instead of Snap. Some Linux desktops have pushed back harder against Snap, like Linux Mint working directly with Mozilla to offer a non-Snap version of the Firefox browser.
UbuntuPIT:
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A New Era for Ubuntu Flavors: Snap Takes the Lead (No More Flatpak by Default)
When Flatpak portable packages emerged in the Linux space, Canonical quickly followed with their own version – Snaps. Both formats provide a dependable and efficient solution for creating portable bundles.
Flatpaks have traditionally been centered around desktop software, offering access to various repositories and being more compatible across multiple platforms. On the other hand, Snap packages are focused on providing both server and desktop applications from a single repository managed by Canonical. Additionally, these packages will only run on Linux distributions that utilize systemd init implementations.
Linuxiac:
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Ubuntu’s Latest Move: Goodbye Flatpak Support
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away, Ubuntu = Linux for human beings. Surely, however, in some other life, on some different planet, in some really far, far away galaxy. Canonical never stops to amaze, adding another bright shining star to their rich collection of unpopular decisions. In short, starting with its upcoming April 20 release Ubuntu 23.04 “Lunar Lobster,” Ubuntu flavors will no longer include default support for Flatpak apps.
But let’s see what the official announcement says first, and then I’ll give my thoughts on it.
The Register:
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By order of Canonical: Official Ubuntu flavors must stop including Flatpak by default
Canonical has issued an official edict: the approved Ubuntu remixes must remove Flatpak support as of the next release.
The various Ubuntu flavors are not Canonical products. Only the original Ubuntu, with the GNOME desktop, is the "real thing." Even so, the company does have some control as it's Canonical that officially sanctions and endorses what is an official flavor, and what isn't. And Canonical has spoken: From the next release, no official variant shall support Flatpak any more. Canonical has its own official cross-platform packaging format, Snap, and as from version 23.04, only Snap is to be built in. The Flatpak plugin for the Software store will be removed too.
Liam Dawe:
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Ubuntu flavours to drop Flatpak by default and stick to Snaps
Canonical has announced a change in the packaging defaults for the various "flavours" like Kubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Budgie and so on to exclude Flatpak and stick with Snap. Yes that's flavours, not flavors but also flavors in the announcement.
Later coverage:
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Ubuntu Flavors to Stop Supporting Flatpak: Here’s How to Enable It
On February 21, 2023, Philipp Kewisch, Community Engineering Manager at Canonical announced on the Ubuntu Discourse Forum that the approved flavors would no longer come with Flatpak support by default.
Alluding to "fragmentation", Kewisch continued: [...]
Kubuntu today:
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Flatpaks and Kubuntu
Kubuntu is and has always been “Ubuntu” combined with the greatest software from the KDE Community. Prior to 23.04 and aligned with Debian packaging, Flatpak and Snap package sources were included as installable options with each source requiring its own set of commands and repositories. However, enabling both sources caused confusion with new users (and *Ubuntu support groups) as the user was unsure about several issues including which or how their packages were installed; the proper place to report issues; and/or how to remove them. As a result, Canonical, Ubuntu’s parent company, and the Ubuntu Technical Board have chosen to support Snaps only upon initial install.
Linux Magazine:
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Ubuntu No Longer Shipping with Flatpak
Anyone who has followed the rise of universal package managers like Snap and Flatpak is fully aware of the difference between the two technologies and how one is more distribution agnostic than the other.
I'm talking about Snap, which is driven by Canonical and happens to be the company behind Ubuntu.
Both Snap and Flatpak are great methods for installing software, especially proprietary applications that do not have ports to the more traditional package managers like apt and dnf. Snap and Flatpak make the installation of tools like Spotify, Slack, and Skype considerably easier.
It's FOSS:
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This New Linux Distro Replaces Snap With Flatpak in Ubuntu
Many users were unhappy when Canonical announced they would drop default Flatpak support for Ubuntu's flavors starting from the upcoming Ubuntu 23.04 (Lunar Lobster) release.
If you were one of those users, we have some good news
LWN coverage:
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Ubuntu stops shipping Flatpak by default
Canonical recently announced that it will no longer ship Flatpak as part of its default installation for the various official Ubuntu flavors, which is in keeping with the practices of the core Ubuntu distribution. The Flatpak package format has gained popularity among Linux users for its convenience and ease of use. Canonical will focus exclusively on its own package-management system, Snap. The decision has caused disgruntlement among some community members, who felt like the distribution was making this decision without regard for its users.