Packaging in GNU/Linux

pages/about-us/news/2020/linux-packaging.md

+@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 this users use ubuntu. That has being our main reason to focus 
+or 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 in snap as a VPN 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 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).