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@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
... There are many distros and many package managers in GNU/Linux. Sadly our
time is limited and we have to decide what we focus or energies on. And
currently in GNU/Linux we are focusing our work on [snap
packages](https://snapcraft.io/riseup-vpn).
I know, snap has many problems. Packages often don't work well in distros not
based in 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 that not [everybody agrees with
its
decisions](https://jatan.blog/2020/05/02/ubuntu-snap-obsession-has-snapped-me-off-of-it/).
Our primary target audience has always being the less computer wise users. In
GNU/Linux most of these users use ubuntu. That has been our main reason to focus
our energies on supporting ubuntu users. And snap makes it very easy to include
software in ubuntu so is easy to install in this platform. 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 it's architecture
is great, its security is really nice and it solves some of the problems of snap
(is not centralized, the control is in the users, ...). But flatpack is designed
to containerize the applications, making 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, for us flatpack is not an
option.
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 or
pass by
[irc](https://kiwiirc.com/client/irc.freenode.net:+6697/?nick=guest?#leap) or
our [mailing list](discuss-subscribe@leap.se).
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