Ceci est une ancienne révision du document !
SNAP EVIL
I noticed two things that I thought probably needed clarification.
First, in Q&A (FCM#206, p.61), EriktheUnready suggests using /forcefsck. Unfortunately, apparently due to systemd, that is no longer supported in Ubuntu. Although /forcefsck is deleted on reboot, it doesn't perform a check. More information including workarounds here: https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2476474
Second, in “My Opinion” (FCM#206, p.44), Erik says, “It's no secret that people do not like Snap packages.” My immediate reaction was, “Which people?” I would suggest a rewording: “It's no secret that a voluble small minority of people don't like snap packages.”
In general, snap packages work just fine, especially for Ubuntu's target market, which is “normal” (i.e. non-technical) people, businesses, and other organisations.
Do snap packages have some problems? Yes, one or two — just as do apt, flaptak, appimage, etc. Did Canonical release snap before it was ready? Yes, that was a stupid move on Canonical's part, but those initial teething problems (including the equally stupidly long first-time start-up after a reboot) have been fixed.
I'm so weary of seeing the knee-jerk “snap evil” polluting the forums. It's just software, not the Devil's own spawn. At least it makes a change from the knee-jerk “Microsoft evil”. Nothing stops you from using flatpak if you want; that's what I do, a mixture of apt, snap, and flatpak according to needs.
Paddy Landau
Ronnie says: Thanks for your input. I admit that I’m one of the people who hate snap files. I just don’t see the need for them. It’s almost like Canonical is creating a problem for no real reason. An example I’d use is the one which made me dump Ubuntu: I installed GIMP. As a ‘normal’ user, I’m probably clueless as to what DEB and SNAP files are. So just click INSTALL and I’ve got GIMP installed. Now I want to install the Gmic plugin. I need to put the file into the .gimp folder in my /home directory. I can’t. There’s no .gimp folder. GIMP is a snap. So how do I install my plugin? The ‘normal’ user is now wondering what on earth is going on and (quite rightly) gets disgruntled and now probably hates Linux and/or Ubuntu.
Article Ideas
I appreciate the work you have accomplished over the years. Thank you.
Suggestions that I would find useful, if you have time to cover them:
• Reviews of software for specific tasks, eg: note-taking (Joplin), screenshots, Linux to Android apps. • Reviews of hardware, eg: curved monitors, how to repurpose obsolete equipment using Linux (iPads, Apple music players, computers, etc.)
Step-by-step tutorials:
• Setting up a simple home network to exchange files between machines. • How to set up a Pi-hole and maintain it. • Update home routers. • How to use SSH (eg: Putty) • Tutorials for Darktable. • How to choose a refurbished computer to save money and the environment. • What is the OS software stack, and why should I care? • How to set up simple cloud backups using Linux.
Todd Winters
Ronnie says: Thank you for the kind words, Todd. So, dear readers, can you help with writing a tutorial or two on any of the above subjects? If you can, please email it to me at: ronnie@fullcirclemagazine.org