Skip to content

docs(snapcraft): Issue #7: apt/deb - snap comparison #206

New issue

Have a question about this project? Sign up for a free GitHub account to open an issue and contact its maintainers and the community.

By clicking “Sign up for GitHub”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy statement. We’ll occasionally send you account related emails.

Already on GitHub? Sign in to your account

Open
wants to merge 7 commits into
base: main
Choose a base branch
from
Open
Changes from all commits
Commits
File filter

Filter by extension

Filter by extension

Conversations
Failed to load comments.
Loading
Jump to
Jump to file
Failed to load files.
Loading
Diff view
Diff view
42 changes: 42 additions & 0 deletions snapcraft/reference/debapt-snap-comparison.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
# APT/deb - snap Packaging Comparison

These tables provide a comparison between the APT/deb and snap package management approaches, highlighting key differences and considerations for developers, maintainers, and end-users.

| **Feature** | **APT/deb Package Management** | **snap Package Management** |
|---|---|---|
| **Platform Support** | Debian-based systems | Cross-distribution (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.) |
| **Package Format** | .deb files | .snap files |
| **Dependency Handling** | Requires manual dependency management | Bundles dependencies within the package |
| **Security** | Standard Linux permissions | Sandboxing, AppArmor, Seccomp |
| **Updates** | Manual updates via package managers (APT) | Automatic updates |
| **Rollback** | Requires manual reinstallation of previous versions | Built-in rollback to previous versions via `snap revert` |
| **Installation** | `apt install <deb name>` | `snap install <snap name>` |
| **Package Management Tools** | **APT** (`apt`, `dpkg`, `aptitude`) | **SNAP** (`snap`, `snapd`) |
| **Isolation** | No isolation by default | Sandboxed environment |
| **Channels** | Not applicable | Stable, candidate, beta, edge |
| **User Data Storage** | Managed by the package itself or user configurations | Separate data storage within confined space |
| **Package Distribution** | Centralized repositories (e.g., Debian archives) | Centralized via Snap Store |
| **Development Considerations** | Follow Debian packaging guidelines, ensure compatibility | Self-contained, fewer dependency issues |
| **End-User Experience** | Familiar to Linux users, requires manual handling | Simplifies installation and updates, user-friendly |

## **Package Builder/Maintainer Considerations**

| **Feature** | **APT/deb Package Management** | **snap Package Management** |
|---|---|---|
| **Build Tools** | `dpkg-deb`, `debuild`, `lintian` | `snapcraft` |
| **Metadata** | `control.tar`, control file | `snap.yaml`, confinement settings |
| **Dependencies Management** | Specified in control file, manually resolved | Bundled within the snap |
| **Testing and Validation** | Manual testing, deb helper tools | Snapcraft tools, automated testing |
| **Distribution Process** | Upload to Debian repositories | Upload to Snap Store |
| **Maintenance Effort** | Requires ongoing updates and dependency checks | Built-in dependency handling |

## **End-User Experience**

| **Feature** | **APT/deb Package Management** | **snap Package Management** |
|---|---|---|
| **Ease of Installation** | Requires knowledge of APT commands | Requires knowledge of snap commands |
| **Software Updates** | Manual intervention required | Automatic updates |
| **System Resources** | Lower overhead, uses existing system libraries | Higher overhead, bundles all dependencies |
| **Security and Isolation** | Standard Linux security model | Enhanced security with sandboxing |
| **Usability** | Familiar to traditional Linux users | More user-friendly, especially for beginners |
| **Version Management** | Can be complex, involves manual intervention | Rollback and version management integration |