Canonical has announced the general availability of the collaboration platform Slack, as a snap package. The move will allow Linux users to get setup with the platform and begin collaborating on their work more easily. Any Linux distribution with snap support can head over to the snapcraft website, download the package, and begin using it.
Jamie Bennett, VP of Engineering, Devices & IoT at Canonical, said:
“Slack is helping to transform the modern workplace, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to the snaps ecosystem. Today’s announcement is yet another example of putting the Linux user first - Slack’s developers will now be able to push out the latest features straight to the user. By prioritising usability, and with the popularity of open source continuing to grow, the number of snaps is only set to rise in 2018.”
Snap packages are great for the Linux community because they mean users can run up to date software, even on Long Term Support releases which have classically been known for running older software. Additionally, all the software’s dependencies are contained within the package meaning users will no longer be met with installation problems if they can’t meet certain dependencies required by the software.
Towards the end of last month, Canonical announced that Spotify had arrived as a snap. The work had been done by Spotify engineers as a voluntary project - the music streaming service made expressly clear that it does not actively support the Linux platform and that the experience may differ from the client on Windows and Mac; nevertheless, the more snap packages Linux users get, the easier life becomes.
Source: Canonical