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For various reasons*, I've completely removed Snap and snapd from Ubuntu 20.04, including adding the file, nosnap.pref, in /etc/apt/preferences.d/, to prevent reinstallation of Snap and Snap-based packages. This has worked well when performing normal package updates, e.g., with sudo apt -y update && sudo apt -y full-upgrade or the Synaptic package manager.

Would nosnap.pref be respected on upgrading to v. 22.04, or, after upgrading, must I repeat the process, removing all Snap packages and snapd, recreating nosnap.pref, and reinstalling the Debian packages from various PPA's that have been added, such as mozillateam/ppa?

* Some issues I've encountered with Snap:

  • Snap applications are slower to load.
  • Often, Snap applications are not kept updated. For example, Snap p7Zip and Snap IrfanView have not been updated for years. However, current Windows versions of IrfanView and 7-Zip work perfectly well under wine.
  • Snap installation files and space requirements are larger because they contain all dependencies.
DrMoishe Pippik
  • 205

2 Answers2

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In some cases, yes: Snap packaged may be reinstalled...

  • If there is a transitional deb that installs the snap, and...
  • That transitional deb has a higher version number than your non-Ubuntu deb, and...
  • You left snapd installed or allow it to be reinstalled.

Release-upgrade of a system without snapd (or pinned to prevent snapd from installing) may cause a different set of errors when you try to release-upgrade. It may prevent the release-upgrade from being successful.

user535733
  • 68,493
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Executive Summary

The game is not worth the candle.

Explanation

There are various comments and answers that point to two possible issues:

  • Installation of a new version of Ubuntu might ignore the file in /etc/apt/preferences.d/ forbidding installation of package snapd.
  • Installation of a new version of Ubuntu might require snapd.

Ubuntu v. 20.04 LTS receives Expanded Security Maintenance (extra 5 years) until April 2030, using Ubuntu Pro, "Always free for personal use.", so there is no immediate security requirement to update Ubuntu itself. (Admittedly, there have been updates to the Linux kernel, not available on older versions of Ubuntu.)

Almost all software can be updated, and with quicker access to new versions, in most cases, than through Snap. So far, the one exception is Calibre, now built with a newer version of glibc, but the older Calibre version works well for my purposes.

Windows software steeped in wine can be updated, as is wine itself.

So there appears to be no need to go through multiple updates and removal of the unwanted package.: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

DrMoishe Pippik
  • 205