Today I removed snapd, which also removed gnome-software-plugins-snap by default. What I didn't notice is that Gnome System Monitor also was removed afterwards. On further inspection there seem to be a host of other applications that are snaps by default:
Desktop snaps
* snap:gnome-3-26-1604
* snap:gnome-calculator
* snap:gnome-characters
* snap:gnome-logs
* snap:gnome-system-monitor
* snap:gtk-common-themes
Ref: https://bazaar.launchpad.net/~ubuntu-core-dev/ubuntu-seeds/ubuntu.bionic/view/head:/desktop
These are also common/core Gnome apps, so I honestly don't understand or like the fact that these are installed as Snaps.
I've noticed that the Gnome System Monitor wasn't respecting my theme selection and was also slow to launch.
To quote a user on Reddit:
I really do not see the point in using a snap, if the same
program/version is the normal repository. unless it is some of theme
or support snap that other snaps use. I think that is the workaround
for snaps not following themes.i find it weird that gnome-system-monitor is a snap.
https://github.com/paradoxxxzero/gnome-shell-system-monitor-applet/issues/452but it seems to be.
some info on it.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Ubuntu/comments/8krkam/system_monitor_on_1804_is_a_snap_by_default/
Ref: https://www.reddit.com/r/Ubuntu/comments/8ls0m1/ubuntu_without_snapd/dzipp9c
Is it just me who feels this hasn't been communicated clearly to the users or are the average users now expected to check developer blogs and launchpad for changes?
Best Answer
This was discussed online a lot over the last 5 months or so. Many news outlets covered it, including Phoronix and OMGUbuntu. We don't expect everyone to keep up with all the technical details of how Ubuntu is built. This is why we publish Release Notes which says
In addition, for many, the switch from deb to snap is largely irrelevant technical detail. It would be (for many) like the switch from Upstart to SystemD. A technical thing that matters to people who care, but the vast majority it doesn't matter.
I also commented on the further point of why things are delivered as snaps on the linked reddit thread, but am reproducing here in case the comment disappears.