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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

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Ubuntu's Mozillateam PPA now forcing users over to snap install for Firefox. (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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What use to be the PPA that allowed Ubuntu users to use native .deb packages for Firefox has recently changed to the same meta package that forces installation of Snap and the Firefox snap package.

I am having to remove the meta package, then re-uninstall the snap firefox, then re-uninstall Snap, then install pin the latest build I could get (firefox_116.0.3+build2-0ubuntu0.22.04.1~mt1_arm64.deb) to keep the native firefox build.

I'm so done with Ubuntu.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I can agree with that only if they solved the problems with extensions and a few other features that were not working with the snap version. If they did not, then they are assholes.

I use keepass to fill login forms, and that does not work with the snap version.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Just curious if you know why? I thought snap was just a package format, not a siloed container.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

In my case, KeePass and ExpressVPN could not function. For KeepassXC, this was the reason:

It is impossible to support native messaging when a browser is running as a sandboxed snap. This is a limitation in snapd not keepassxc.

It appears they found some work-around with an extra script after installation as of 2 years ago. Basically, snaps are sandboxed, which is a feature. That wreaks havoc with certain tools, though. ExpressVPN's browser plugin was having similar problems, and on Linux, that's you're only GUI interface for ExpressVPN.

I just checked, and I was updated to the Snap version, and I had no problems with either extension, so they did solve the problems. Therefore, I'm not outraged. Ubuntu has the right to standardize their deployments on a system that makes their work easier or less chaotic - as long as it does not screw over their customers.

Edit: i was mistaken. I still use the Mozilla PPA, so the problems migjt remain.