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Learn how to snap an app in 30 minutes
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your language:
Python
Pre-built apps
C/C++
Go
Java
Node.js
Electron
Flutter
Ruby
Rust
MOOS
ROS
ROS 2
Why are snaps good for C/C++ projects?
- Snaps are easy to discover and install. Millions of users can browse and install snaps graphically in the Snap Store or from the command-line.
- Snaps install and run the same across Linux. They bundle the exact versions of your app’s dependencies.
- Snaps automatically update to the latest version. Four times a day, users’ systems will check for new versions and upgrade in the background.
- Upgrades are not disruptive. Because upgrades are not in-place, users can keep your app open as it’s upgraded in the background.
- Upgrades are safe. If your app fails to upgrade, users automatically roll back to the previous revision.
In just a few steps, you’ll have an example C/C++ app in the Snap Store.
Here's how dosbox defines snapcraft.yaml:
name: dosbox
version: "0.74-svn"
summary: DOS emulator
description: |
DOSBox is a x86 emulator with Tandy/Hercules/[…]
confinement: devmode
base: core18
parts:
dosbox:
plugin: autotools
source-type: tar
source: http://source.dosbox.com/dosboxsvn.tgz
build-packages:
- g++
- make
- libsdl1.2-dev
[…]
- libasound2-dev
stage-packages:
- libsdl-sound1.2
- libsdl-net1.2
- libxcursor1
[…]
- zlib1g
apps:
dosbox:
command: dosbox
environment:
"LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "$SNAP/usr/lib/
$SNAPCRAFT_ARCH_TRIPLET/pulseaudio"
"DISABLE_WAYLAND": "1"
Why are snaps good for Electron projects?
- Snaps are easy to discover and install. Millions of users can browse and install snaps graphically in the Snap Store or from the command-line.
- Snaps install and run the same across Linux. They bundle Electron and all of your app’s dependencies, be they Node modules or system libraries.
- Snaps automatically update to the latest version. Four times a day, users’ systems will check for new versions and upgrade in the background.
- Upgrades are not disruptive. Because upgrades are not in-place, users can keep your app open as it’s upgraded in the background.
- Upgrades are safe. If your app fails to upgrade, users automatically roll back to the previous revision.
In just a few steps, you’ll have an example Electron app in the Snap Store.
Here's how to use it with electron-quick-start:
{
"name": "electron-quick-start",
"version": "1.0.0",
"description": "A minimal Electron application",
"main": "main.js",
"scripts": {
"start": "electron .",
"dist": "build --linux snap"
},
"repository": "https://github.com/electron/electron-quick-start",
"keywords": [
"Electron",
"quick",
"start",
"tutorial",
"demo"
],
"author": "GitHub",
"license": "CC0-1.0",
"devDependencies": {
"electron": "^2.0.0",
"electron-builder": "^20.27.1"
}
}
Why are snaps good for Flutter projects?
- Snaps are easy to discover and install. Millions of users can browse and install snaps graphically in the Snap Store or from the command-line.
- Snaps install and run the same across Linux. They bundle the exact versions of your app’s dependencies.
- Snaps automatically update to the latest version. Four times a day, users’ systems will check for new versions and upgrade in the background.
- Upgrades are not disruptive. Because upgrades are not in-place, users can keep your app open as it’s upgraded in the background.
- Upgrades are safe. If your app fails to upgrade, users automatically roll back to the previous revision.
In just a few steps, you’ll have an example Flutter app in the Snap Store.
Here's how super-cool-app defines snapcraft.yaml:
name: super-cool-app
version: "1.0"
summary: Super Cool App
description: |
Super Cool App that does everything! […]
confinement: strict
base: core18
parts:
super-cool-app:
plugin: flutter
source: https://github.com/kenvandine/super-cool-app.git
flutter-target: lib/main.dart
apps:
super-cool-app:
command: super_cool_app
extensions: [flutter-dev]
Why are snaps good for Go projects?
- Easy to discover and install by millions using the Snap Store or command-line every day
- Automatically updated to the latest stable version of your app
- Revert to the previous version if an update fails, preserving data
Programming in Go makes it easy to create a zip of your app that runs across Linux, without dependencies. However, end user discovery and update management remain a challenge. Snaps fill this gap, letting you distribute a Go app in an app store experience for end users.
In just a few steps, you’ll have an example Go app in the Snap Store.
Here’s how httplab defines snapcraft.yaml:
name: httplab
version: '1.0'
summary: An interactive web server.
description: |
HTTPLab let you inspect HTTP requests […]
confinement: devmode
base: core18
parts:
httplab:
plugin: go
go-importpath: github.com/gchaincl/httplab
source: https://github.com/gchaincl/httplab
source-type: git
build-packages:
- gcc
apps:
httplab:
command: bin/httplab
Why are snaps good for Java projects?
- Simplify installation instructions, regardless of distribution, to snap install myjavaapp.
- Directly control the delivery of automatic application updates.
Distributing a Java application for Linux and reaching the widest possible audience is complicated. Typically, the user has to make sure the JRE/SDK version and their environment are configured correctly. When a Linux distribution changes the delivered JRE, this can be problematic for applications. Snapcraft ensures the correct JRE is shipped alongside the application at all times.
In just a few steps, you’ll have an example Java app in the Snap Store.
Here's how freeplane defines snapcraft.yaml:
name: freeplane
version: '1.8.1'
summary: Application for Mind Mapping […]
description: |
Freeplane is a free and open source software […]
confinement: devmode
base: core18
parts:
freeplane:
plugin: gradle
source: https://github.com/freeplane/freeplane.git
source-tag: release-$SNAPCRAFT_PROJECT_VERSION
gradle-version: '5.1.1'
gradle-output-dir: BIN
gradle-options: [binZip, -xtest, -xcreateGitTag]
override-build: |
snapcraftctl build
unzip -o DIST/freeplane_bin-*.zip -d $SNAPCRAFT_PART_INSTALL/
build-packages:
- unzip
apps:
freeplane:
extensions:
- gnome-3-28
command: freeplane-$SNAPCRAFT_PROJECT_VERSION/freeplane.sh
environment:
JAVA_HOME: $SNAP/usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64
PATH: $JAVA_HOME/jre/bin:$PATH
plugs:
- home
- network
- cups-control
Why are snaps good for MOOS projects?
- Bundle all the runtime requirements, including the exact version of MOOS/MOOS-IvP and system libraries you need.
- Directly and reliably control the delivery of application updates using existing infrastructure.
- Upgrades are safe. If your app fails to upgrade, users automatically roll back to the previous revision.
- Extremely simple creation of daemons.
In just a few steps, you’ll have an example MOOS app in the Snap Store.
Here's an example snapcraft.yaml that uses MOOS:
name: moos
version: '0.1'
summary: MOOS Example
description: |
This example includes MOOSDB, the main […]
confinement: devmode
base: core18
parts:
moos:
source: https://github.com/themoos/core-moos/archive/v10.4.0.tar.gz
plugin: cmake
build-packages: [g++]
apps:
MOOSDB:
command: bin/MOOSDB
Why are snaps good for Node.js projects?
- Easy to discover and install by millions using the Snap Store or command-line every day.
- Automatically updated to the latest stable version of your app.
- Revert to the previous version if an update fails, preserving data.
With npm you can distribute apps to other developers, but it’s not tailored to end users. Snaps let you distribute your Node app in an app store experience.
In just a few steps, you’ll have an example Node.js app in the Snap Store.
Here's how wethr defines snapcraft.yaml:
name: wethr
version: '1.0'
summary: Command line weather tool.
description: |
Get current weather […]
confinement: devmode
base: core18
parts:
wethr:
plugin: nodejs
source: https://github.com/twobucks/wethr.git
apps:
wethr:
command: wethr
Why are snaps good for pre-built apps?
- Easy to discover and install by millions using the Snap Store or command-line every day
- Automatically updated to the latest stable version of your app
- Revert to the previous version if an update fails, preserving data
- Isolation ensures no conflicts between applications
- Identical behaviour across Linux distributions, even with library dependencies
Distributing the Linux build of your app as a zip lets you provide one download and set of instructions for all of Linux. However, end user discovery and update management remain a challenge. Snaps fill this gap, letting you wrap your existing Linux build in an app store experience for end users.
In just a few steps, you’ll have an example pre-built app in the Snap Store.
How geekbench4 defines snapcraft.yaml
name: geekbench4
version: 4.2.0
summary: Cross-Platform Benchmark
description: |
Geekbench 4 measures your system's power […]
confinement: devmode
base: core18
parts:
geekbench4:
plugin: dump
source: http://cdn.geekbench.com/Geekbench-$SNAPCRAFT_PROJECT_VERSION-Linux.tar.gz
apps:
geekbench4:
command: geekbench4
Why are snaps good for Python projects?
- Easy to discover and install by millions using the Snap Store or command-line every day
- Automatically updated to the latest stable version of your app
- Revert to the previous version if an update fails, preserving data
- Isolation ensures no conflicts between applications
- Identical behaviour across Linux distributions, even with library dependencies
With PyPI you can distribute apps to other developers, but it’s not tailored to end users. Virtualenv lets you install an app’s dependencies in isolation, but it’s not automatically used for installs from PyPI. Snaps let you distribute a dependency-isolated Python app in an app store experience for end users.
In just a few steps, you’ll have an example Python app in the Snap Store.
Here's how offlineimap defines snapcraft.yaml:
name: offlineimap
version: '1.0'
summary: OfflineIMAP
description: |
OfflineIMAP is software that downloads […]
confinement: devmode
base: core18
parts:
offlineimap:
plugin: python
python-version: python2
source: https://github.com/snapcraft-docs/offlineimap.git
stage-packages:
- python-six
apps:
offlineimap:
command: bin/offlineimap
Why are snaps good for ROS projects?
- Bundle all the runtime requirements, including the exact version of ROS and system libraries you need.
- Expand the distributions supported beyond just Ubuntu.
- Directly and reliably control the delivery of application updates using existing infrastructure.
- Extremely simple creation of daemons.
In just a few steps, you’ll have an example ROS app in the Snap Store.
Here's an example snapcraft.yaml that uses ROS:
name: ros-talker-listener
version: '0.1'
summary: ROS Talker/Listener Example
description: |
This example launches a ROS talker and listener.
base: core18
confinement: devmode
parts:
ros-tutorials:
plugin: catkin
source: https://github.com/ros/ros_tutorials.git
source-branch: melodic-devel
source-space: roscpp_tutorials/
apps:
ros-talker-listener:
command: roslaunch roscpp_tutorials talker_listener.launch
Why are snaps good for ROS2 projects?
- Bundle all the runtime requirements, including the exact version of ROS and system libraries you need.
- Expand the distributions supported beyond just Ubuntu.
- Directly and reliably control the delivery of application updates using existing infrastructure.
- Extremely simple creation of daemons.
In just a few steps, you’ll have an example ROS2 app in the Snap Store.
Here's an example snapcraft.yaml that uses ROS2:
name: ros2-talker-listener
version: '0.1'
summary: ROS2 Talker/Listener Example
description: |
This example launches a ROS2 talker and listener.
confinement: devmode
base: core18
parts:
ros-demos:
plugin: colcon
source: https://github.com/ros2/demos.git
source-branch: dashing
colcon-rosdistro: dashing
colcon-source-space: demo_nodes_cpp
stage-packages: [ros-dashing-ros2launch]
apps:
ros2-talker-listener:
command: opt/ros/dashing/bin/ros2 launch demo_nodes_cpp talker_listener.launch.py
Why are snaps good for Ruby projects?
- Bundle all the runtime requirements.
- Simplify installation instructions, regardless of distribution, to snap install myrubyapp.
- Directly control the delivery of automatic application updates.
- Extremely simple creation of services.
Linux install instructions for Ruby applications often get complicated. To prevent modules from different Ruby applications clashing with each other, developer tools like rvm or rbenv must be used. With snapcraft, it’s one command to produce a bundle that works anywhere.
In just a few steps, you’ll have an example Ruby app in the Snap Store.
Here’s how mdl uses it:
name: mdl
version: "0.5.0"
summary: Markdown lint tool
description: |
Style checker/lint tool for markdown files
confinement: devmode
base: core18
parts:
mdl:
source: https://github.com/snapcraft-docs/mdl.git
plugin: ruby
gems:
- rake
- bundler
override-build: |
snapcraftctl build
rake install
build-packages:
- git
apps:
mdl:
command: bin/mdl
Why are snaps good for Rust projects?
- Easy to discover and install by millions using the Snap Store or command-line every day.
- Automatically updated to the latest stable version of your app.
- Revert to the previous version if an update fails, preserving data.
You can distribute your apps across Linux using a musl-enabled version of Rust, with all the dependencies satisfied. However, end user discovery and update management remain a challenge. Snaps fill this gap, letting you distribute a Rust app in an app store experience for end users.
In just a few steps, you’ll have an example Rust app in the Snap Store.
Here's how xsv defines snapcraft.yaml:
name: xsv
version: '1.0'
summary: A fast CSV command line toolkit written in Rust
description: |
xsv is a command line program for indexing […]
confinement: devmode
base: core18
parts:
xsv:
plugin: rust
source: https://github.com/snapcraft-docs/xsv.git
apps:
xsv:
command: bin/xsv