Exciting Changes Coming to Ubuntu Flavors
Big changes are on the horizon for official Ubuntu spin-offs such as Kubuntu and Lubuntu These desktop Linux distributions are built on the foundation of Ubuntu Desktop, which has seen a decline in popularity Stay tuned for updates on the exciting changes to come!
The popularity of Ubuntu Desktop may have waned, but it remains the foundation for numerous other Linux distributions, including official spin-offs. However, all official Ubuntu derivatives are about to undergo a significant change. Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu Linux, is also responsible for developing Snap, a container and distribution technology for Linux applications. Although Snap has proven controversial due to its centralized design and occasional poor performance, it continues to compete with Flatpak, which many Linux distributions install by default. Some Linux desktops, such as Linux Mint, have even gone as far as collaborating with Mozilla to offer a non-Snap version of the Firefox browser, pushing back against Snap's influence.
Canonical recently announced that all official Ubuntu derivatives will no longer install Flatpak by default. This decision marks a step backwards in a software environment that typically prioritizes choice. However, users can still choose to install Flatpak with a single terminal command. This change affects all official Ubuntu derivatives, including Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Kylin, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Studio, Ubuntu Unity, and Xubuntu. Canonical explained that "maintaining focus" on improving the distribution's technologies, rather than introducing new ones, is the reasoning behind this decision.
Canonical has made the decision to prioritize its own app ecosystem over competitors like Flatpak, as it has done in the past. This move has been met with some criticism, but Canonical argues that presenting both Snap and Flatpak options (along with a PPA option, if available) can lead to a poor user experience, particularly when each version has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. As of the April 2023 release, named “Lunar Lobster,” Flatpak support will no longer be included by default in Ubuntu derivatives, though it will still be available for users who have previously used it.
Source: Ubuntu Discourse
Via: OMG! Ubuntu!
