Ubuntu's Mozillateam PPA now forcing users over to snap install for Firefox.

PseudoSpock@lemmy.dbzer0.com to Linux@lemmy.ml – 482 points –

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.

219

You are viewing a single comment
View all comments

I get that people don't like being forced, but otherwise I couldn't care less about Firefox snap vs deb. All problems I once had have been ironed out. On the contrary, I like sticking to the "recommended" path with more developer focus and hopefully higher stability. For my usecases I have zero problems with snap.

For one, the snap version is 115 instead of 116, so it's reverting me to an older version, which makes firefox want to wipe my profile. Not ok. Two, I was purposely using the Mozillateam PPA to get non snap installations, and they up and changed that on us with no warning. Then there is the matter that firefox as a snap is slower. And finally, I can't add the Widevine for arm64 plugin to the snap.

Snap for browsers is a terrible idea.

Smart card support is still completely broken. I kinda need that to use Linux for my work PC.

If it works for you, fine. I still have this bug to deal with which makes snaps completely unusable in our environment.

Maybe I should try petitioning for us to at least use Linux Mint.

Same for our student PCs - As soon as the setup includes network homes snap becomes completely unusable. Applications just crash on startup because snap doesn't allow them to access the user's home directory

Yup, also student PCs with home on network share here (:

But always remember, "Snap is production ready and enterprise grade" or whatever

I also hate that anyone would side for snap based browser installation, and that any of you are upvoting it is horribly icky.

I like my apps to be contained somehow. I don't like all the choices canonical made with snap, but I like containment.

Your responses here tho, yeah. Icky.

I like some things as flatpak or appimage. But not my browsers, I use a hacked in widevine plugin.

I know you do. I want my stuff in containers as much as possible. So maybe be less judgemental about other people wanting to do that, and I won't be judgementable about you not wanting to do that.

I see where you're headed... but having automatic updates, when I'm using a specific PPA to keep me off of a particular snap, only to have that PPA then also shove me over without asking right back to the thing the PPA was designed to help me avoid... Not ok. Just close the PPA, don't make it a trojan horse to install what I didn't want anyway. That is hostile and makes me very judgemental and a stick in the mud.

I don't care about that sorry, just commenting on you being a hostile to others about what they choose to do for no reason. Maybe don't do that.