Snap Packages vs. Flatpaks: Which One You Should Use
1 min read
Summary
Linux has many distributions that use different package managers, making it difficult for applications to work on all of them universally.
Two universal packaging systems that aim to solve this are Snap and Flatpak.
Snap is Canonical’s universal package format developed for use on Ubuntu, providing sandboxed applications that include all the dependencies they need to run.
It uses a centralised Snap Store, and applications are automatically updated by default, but it does not work on other Linux distributions besides Ubuntu.
Flatpak is another universal package system but unlike Snap, it is not tied down to one distribution and is more focused on desktop applications.
Flatpak out of the two is more customisable, giving users more control over app permissions, but it can be more complex to set up.
Ultimately both package managers have their own pros and cons and the best one to use depends on personal preference and the distribution and type of application the user is focused on.
