Why is Snap So Controversial in the Linux Community?

One major concern is that Canonical is perceived to be moving away from traditional Linux values by not offering a community version of Ubuntu Desktop. They want to develop a solid, commercial option, which some users find off-putting. It feels kinds of corporate to many.

In the end, while Snap itself isn't terrible—it actually meets certain needs—it has a bad rap among users who value open-source principles and dislike Canonical's corporate governance approach. If you don't want Snap, you can always choose alternatives like Flatpak for your packages.

A lot of the Snap criticism comes from the fact that Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has control over Snap's distribution. This means users can only get Snap packages from the Snap Store, which is proprietary. This aspect rubs some folks in the community the wrong way, as they prefer more open options in software management.

The controversy can also stem from a philosophical standpoint—many users think all software in the Linux ecosystem should be open and community-driven. Canonical's focus on monetization can feel at odds with these ideals, especially when compared to other distributions.

The implementation of Snaps can also create issues. Some believe they can be buggy and can override existing installations made through or via apt, leading to confusion. For example, a user might want to install an app and accidentally get a Snap version that doesn't work properly. Plus, a lot of people now prefer Flatpak over Snap since it's seen as more user-friendly and stable.