Review of Resolute Raccoon Kubuntu 26.04 LTS

[Snowhog]

I know that someone will ask; it occurred to me; if the pipewire package isn't just a "snap pointer package".

AI Overview

The Ubuntu package gstreamer1.0-pipewire:amd64 (version 1.6.2-1ubuntu1, often associated with PipeWire version 0.3.x or 1.x depending on the Ubuntu release) is a true, native .deb package.

It is not a "snap pointer" package.

Here is the breakdown:

Native Plugin: This package provides the GStreamer plugin necessary for GStreamer-based applications to use PipeWire for audio/video input and output.

Package Management: It is installed, managed, and upgraded via apt or dpkg, standard Debian package management tools.

Library Component: It installs shared libraries (.so files) into system directories (like /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gstreamer-1.0/) that allow native GStreamer applications to interact with the system-wide PipeWire daemon.

While Ubuntu uses snaps for many applications, essential system audio/video plugins like gstreamer1.0-pipewire remain native .deb packages to ensure deep integration with the system's multimedia framework.

[acheron]

Lets be clear here. I am Kubuntu devloper. I am also a full Ubuntu Core developer.

The pipewire package (and sub packages) in resolute 26.04 are conventionally packaged self contained.debs, which themselves contain the pipewire binaries, shared libraries, data/config/services files all in those. They do not install a snap version or require one. Ubuntu itself, and none of the flavours, ship pipewire as a snap or require it.

The claim in some online video somewhere that a pipewire snap is shipped or required is complete BS.

According to the 26.04 roadmap, maybe shipping pipewire as a snap is something that might be considered in a future release at an unspecified time beyond 26.04. i.e. looking at and evaluating the concept during the 26.04 release cycle, but not shipping it there. The roadmap is clear on this. I think there have also been some things quoted on say the register which say "looking at for 26.04", where maybe "during" would have been more accurate.

And to me honest, since that uncommital aspiration in the roadmap post last November, I have heard no more about it myself in development channels.

I think here that some social media commentors/creators have misconstrued/misunderstood (if I am being generous) what was said and posted last November, and come to 2+2=7 in their messaging. They certainly did not bother to check what was actually in 26.04.

[oshunluvr]

I have an updated and de-snapped 26.04 install and sound works fine. Pipewire exists as a normal install, not a snap.

Shocker - a youtuber is making things up... <rolls eyes>

Correction: The video is about Ubuntu and I missed that initially. Curious that he Kubuntu team didn't follow that particular Ubuntu path but still install Firefox and Thunderbird as snaps. There still seems to be a strong push-back against snaps in my web reading experience. No way to tell how actually prevailing that sentiment actually is.

[acheron]

Correction: The video is about Ubuntu and I missed that initially.

Ubuntu doesn't install pipewire as a snap either. The claim in the video is complete bulls**t