I have my Ubuntu Software Center set up to display available snaps. Some apps have both a snap version and an Ubuntu Software Center version available. However, I don't know what the difference is between them. I've seen rumors that snaps are self-updating, but I don't know if Ubuntu Software Center apps can do that, too. In general, I'm wondering what the differences and pros/cons are between the two.
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Classic packages
If you're installing a program from deb-package (Ubuntu Software Center version in the question), you get a program that relies on system-installed dependencies.
Pro: you only download every common part once.
Con: you can't install programs that require something that is newer than available for your system release.
Snaps (snap packages)
If you're installing a program from snap, you get a program with all its dependencies packed in isolated container.
Pro: you can install programs that require dependencies that are not available system-wide, or use programs with different versions of same dependencies.
Cons:
- you have to download and keep same components again, so you could get increased traffic and disk usage.
- if there is vulnerability found in some dependency, you have to wait while program publisher updates snap with updated one, while you could update it yourself if you'd used classic packages.
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