signal-desktop

The AGPLv3 only requires that you make the source available, that can even be on request, that can be on a CD. You can even, to quote the AGPLv3 itself, charge for that CD "for a price no more than your reasonable cost of physically performing this conveying of source." But that's not what's going on here. If the source is unchanged, it's perfectly valid (and often done) to just point people upstream. That is providing the source. And the code used to build their snap is available*, and you can see all it does is repackage upstream's official package. * https://github.com/snapcrafters/signal-desktop/blob/master/s...

Thanks, I see it here now in both places > https://forum.snapcraft.io/t/what-happened-to-signal-desktop... & https://github.com/snapcrafters/signal-desktop/issues/70#iss....

What this is is also another reason not to use Snap. This is a multi-level failure. 1. Signal-Desktop is AGPLv3: https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop 2. The snap package metadata is AGPLv3: https://github.com/snapcrafters/signal-desktop So, this looks like a fraudulent DMCA claim by Signal, as the snap package maintainers and Canonicial have an open source license! This shows malice by Signal. 3. No-one from Canonical contacted the package maintainer(s) about the DMCA, so they have no opportunity to counterclaim or defend. This is an open sign Snap should not be used. Because utterly unjustified DMCA claims will result in the removal of a package without any way to contest. This is compounded by Canoncial's controlling methodology with Snap where it is ostensibly open-source but Canonical controls what is permitted with snap throug

Thanks for the explanation Galgalesh! Can you post this update on the Snapcraft (https://forum.snapcraft.io/t/what-happened-to-signal-desktop...) and GitHub threads (https://github.com/snapcrafters/signal-desktop/issues/70) too? I was going to just now and cross link back here to your comment and figured it would be better coming from you directly!

This issue was also raised on their GitHub https://github.com/snapcrafters/signal-desktop/issues/70

No one knows [1], except Snap. Not even the maintainers :( Snaps response [2] seems to be: > I understand the sudden move of signal-desktop can be disruptive for people wishing to install this package. Just to confirm the reason for the absence - Snap Store administrators had to remove the snap in accordance with our policies. We hope to have it back shortly. 1. https://github.com/snapcrafters/signal-desktop/issues/70#iss... 2. https://forum.snapcraft.io/t/what-happened-to-signal-desktop...

I really despise the idea/existence of app stores. Why can't a publishers website be their store front, then from that site, you can run (or "download"/"install" if you must) the app? Technically it looks like that would actually work [1]. They could host the `.snap` file. Although I'm sure snap will add friction to this (as in, not simple let you open and click "Install") from a downloaded snap file, as they probably want you to use their app store. 1. https://github.com/snapcrafters/signal-desktop/issues/70#iss...