Solus, a popular Linux distribution known for its user-friendly approach and modern design, has announced a significant change in its software packaging strategy. The project has decided to transition away from using Snap packages, a package format developed by Canonical for Ubuntu and other Linux distributions.

In a recent blog post, the Solus team explained that the decision to move away from Snap packages was not made lightly. The team cited a variety of reasons for the transition, including concerns about the open-source nature of Snap packages and compatibility issues that arose from using Snap alongside Solus’ own package management system, eopkg.

One of the primary reasons for the transition, according to the Solus team, was the lack of transparency and control over Snap packages. Unlike traditional package formats used in Solus, such as .deb or .rpm, Snap packages are not fully open-source. This lack of transparency posed a significant concern for the Solus team, as they value open-source principles and believe in the importance of maintaining the integrity of their software packages.

Additionally, the Solus team found that using Snap packages alongside eopkg, their own package management system, created compatibility issues that made it difficult to manage software installations on Solus systems. By transitioning away from Snap packages, the team hopes to streamline the software packaging process and ensure a more consistent user experience for Solus users.

The decision to transition away from Snap packages aligns with Solus’ overall goal of providing a stable and user-friendly Linux distribution. By focusing on their own package management system and maintaining control over the software packages available in the Solus repositories, the team believes they can better serve their user base and provide a more reliable and efficient software delivery system.

As the Solus team works to implement this transition, they have assured users that they will continue to support and maintain existing Snap packages in the Solus repositories for the time being. However, new Snap packages will not be added to the repositories, and users are encouraged to transition to alternative software packaging methods, such as Flatpak or traditional eopkg packages.

Overall, Solus’ decision to transition away from Snap packages reflects their commitment to open-source principles, user experience, and software stability. By focusing on their own package management system and maintaining control over the software packages available in their repositories, the Solus team aims to provide a more reliable and consistent software delivery system for their users.