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diff --git a/pages/about-us/news/2020/linux-packaging.md b/pages/about-us/news/2020/linux-packaging.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5fcde7c --- /dev/null +++ b/pages/about-us/news/2020/linux-packaging.md @@ -0,0 +1,47 @@ +@title = 'Packaging in GNU/Linux' +@author = 'meskio' +@posted_at = '2020-06-18' +@more = true +@preview_image = '/img/pages/gummi-penguins.jpg' + +We get frequently asked why we don't do flatpack or appimage or arch packages +or... for our VPN. There are many distros and many package managers in GNU/Linux. Sadly our +time is limited and we have to decide what we focus our energies on. And +currently in GNU/Linux we are focusing our work on [snap +packages](https://snapcraft.io/riseup-vpn). + +We know, snap has many problems. Packages often don't work well in distros not +based on debian ([#272](https://0xacab.org/leap/bitmask-vpn/-/issues/272), +[#77](https://0xacab.org/leap/bitmask-vpn/-/issues/77)). It's a centralized +platform, controlled by one commercial entity and [not everybody agrees with +their decisions](https://jatan.blog/2020/05/02/ubuntu-snap-obsession-has-snapped-me-off-of-it/). + +Our primary target audience has always been the less computer-savvy users. In +GNU/Linux most of them use ubuntu. That has been our main reason to focus +our energies on supporting ubuntu first. And snap makes it very easy to include +software in ubuntu which is convenient too. Also the most used +distros around are debian based, and snap usually works well on those. + +Knowing that not everybody likes snap, we produce [.deb +packages](https://riseup.net/en/vpn/linux#package-installation) as well and we +do our best to keep them up to date. + +One of the other options we have explored is flatpack. I think its architecture +is great, its security is really nice and it solves some of the problems of snap +(it's not centralized, the control is in the users, ...). But flatpack is designed +to containerize the applications, making it impossible to package something like a +VPN, because it needs to modify the network configuration and the firewall +which is by design not allowed by flatpack. So flatpack is not an option for us. + +Snap does containerize as well, but this is something that you can disable when +you make the snap by using the 'classic' mode. We do that to be able to package +a VPN into snap. + +From the core team we might not have the time in the near future to work on any +other packages. But we will welcome any contributors. If you would like to +package the VPN for your favourite package manager we'll be really happy to +help. Don't hesitate to [open an +issue](https://0xacab.org/leap/bitmask-vpn/-/issues/new) to discuss it there, +pass by on +[irc](https://kiwiirc.com/client/irc.freenode.net:+6697/?nick=guest?#leap) or +write to our [mailing list](discuss-subscribe@leap.se). diff --git a/pages/img/pages/gummi-penguins.jpg b/pages/img/pages/gummi-penguins.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..23f2d49 --- /dev/null +++ b/pages/img/pages/gummi-penguins.jpg |
