I would love to be able to recommend and use Zorin OS.
But I have a huge issue with the fact that Zorin OS is based on Ubuntu manly because of the heavy problematic Snapcraft package management system and how its packages integrate with the operating system.
Snaps are for servers not for desktops.
Why don't you consider making a Zorin OS - Debian Edition just like Linux Mint LMDE?
Or a clean Zorin OS - None snap edition - totally cleaned up for all snap related issues.
Zorin OS has lately moved from up the ranking in the disto distribution.
Congratulations.
I strongly believe, removing snap would give it another major jump.
I also agree with using Debian as the main core and removing Ubuntu — I used Debian for a while and it was great, I just had an issue with the Backspace key in Nautilus, and my printer was giving me trouble. If I can fix the Backspace navigation issue, I’ll turn Debian into something like Zorin right away and start using it.
Edit: I also fixed the Backspace button issue in Debian 13 with a Nautilus extension.
1: as headless serer software, for test or production.
2: as a slower not properly integrated and theme defying version of a normally good software -- like a slow and ugly version of Firefox?
We could call it SnappySlowFox, for the elderly and slower fokes perhaps :O)
I agree with the Debian Edition as i used Debian 10, 11, 12 in the past. But i do not have this kind of strong opinion against sanp packages ...
I use also Ubuntu / Kubuntu with snaps without issues.
But for sure, at the beginning when snaps released, it was not as good as they are now and they use to start so slowly. Kind of pointless at that time.
Zorin OS has used Ubuntu, since the original OS release, in July 1st, 2009. I see no reason why the Zorin bro's, would suddenly change their SOP now?
Infact, I consider it a miracle at all, they stopped including Firefox, due to Mozilla's change in TOU SOP, and switched to the Brave browser.
As it is however, a Linux user has choice, (something you don't have with Microsoft Windows) & can choose a multitude of Linux OS's, that will serve your needs. It doesn't have to be Zorin OS.
Honestly, if they did THIS or at least removed Snaps completely (and got more serious about Q&A and fixing bugs before releases), I would come back. No question. I would be more than happy to pay for the "pro" version then.
Well, there would be the future Course of Ubuntu. And there is the Question if Ubuntu will still be the right Choice as Base in this Future. And the Dev's have to consider that.
The problem with using Ubuntu as a base isn't the snaps, which are easily uninstalled and even completely blocked. The problem is that the packages are older than Debian's. Basing it on Debian stable would allow for more recent packages than Ubuntu LTS at the time of Zorin's release, with Debian's phenomenal stability.
Hello
I think Ubuntu started to lose their way as soon as they started collaborating with Micro$soft so they are now seemingly headed in a wrong direction.
Snap is such a c r a p for normal users.
I've been using Zorin for quite some time and the only things I don't like is larger memory usage because of integration of some gnome utils and the inclusion of snaps.
A Debian edition with apt installable apps would be just bliss... Cleaner and faster.. I haven't used Zorin Core 18 yet but if it integrates even more of this snap stuff I think I'll pass..
Kudos to the developers who provided the easiest pathway to Linux for Windows users for so many years!
Flatpak & Snap are pushed far more then DEB or APT installs, thats just the reality of Zorin OS package management these days.
While Flatpak Steam works just fine, a lot of users fall into trouble, when they want to use external SSD drives, and Steam has no permission to look at it. So you gotta use Flatseal to give it such permission.
I will admit, it would be far easier for newbies, if instead of needing another app like Flatseal, a popup message that says...........
"Due to the nature of Flatpaks, Steam does not have permission to use external drives, would you like to give Steam permission to use your Western Digital 2TB?"
Now that, would make Linux far more digestible, for the Linux newbie, IMHO. Maybe Flatseal could be baked into the OS, in a way that could work on auto. But ultimately, the one making the final decision, is on the user.
You can remove Snap and Snapd, but if any snap software is already installed... they will remain as bloat.
So, if the user wants to remove those first, they must unmount the snaps and remove them in the correct order, before removing snap and snapd and that process can be rather trying.
I tried making a Debian Testing version of Zorin using Dash to Panel, Arc Menu and Desktop Icons. But a lot of apps didn't respect Dark Mode. Zorin always does.
