Is it safe to remove snap from Ubuntu 22.04 LTS completely?

Have you considered POP!_OS instead? It's based on Ubuntu 22.04, but it comes without snap by default [1].

As I mentioned before [2], snap is a hill I'm ready to die on, so after being a user for almost 15 years, I'm parting ways with Canonical. I respect their (likely commercial) decision to push forward with snap, but it's a compromise I'm not willing to accept, so I'm actively testing Debian and POP!_OS. I'm leaning towards the latter.

[1] https://www.theregister.com/2022/04/28/pop_os_2204_is_here/

[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31103834#31105526

You will lose access to any software installed via a snap package. Snap software is "containerized" (to varying extents depending on the install mode and permissions) so you would lose access to "snap" containerized software speifically. There are other ways to run containerized software you wouldn't necessarily lose access to though are not installed or used by default and that can also be used at the same time as snap packages (e.g. flatpak, docker, etc).

There is some software installed by default on 22.04 by snap that has no Ubuntu-provided alternative "deb" package. This includes firefox and the "Ubuntu Software" store app (installed by default) and LXD (not installed by default, but if you want to use it, there is no deb package). If you're not using any such snap software, it may not matter. In some cases you may be able to install software through some other non-snap method from a non-Ubuntu source (e.g. you may be able to install firefox using the standard linux installer, though I have not tried that).

With regards to the Ubuntu live kernel update feature, this is powered by the 'canonical-livepatch' snap. When you run "ua enable livepatch" it installs the snap. Without snap, it won't work, hence you won't get live patches. Livepatches are not automatically enabled by default for a standard install on your own hardware, you need to attach it to your ubuntu account with "ua attach" and then "ua enable livepatch" (it's free for 3 personal machines and requires a paid subscription otherwise). You can read more about that at https://ubuntu.com/security/livepatch. The snap package is the only canonical-livepatch client package hence if you removed snapd you would lose access to use livepatches.

Disclaimer: I work for Canonical (Ubuntu).

As a long time Ubuntu user that's not anymore, I'd suggest you find an alternative distro. I understand adding things to your OS, but if you are at the point you are removing things by default, that's usually an indication it's not the best distro for you. RHEL family is a pretty good choice. Also Manjaro.

Edit: Another poster suggested PopOS - that's probably a less radical change.

It's probably less hassle to just dump them for Debian or Pop. By removing snap, you're now taking on a maintenance project, and will have to continue maintaining it for any unintentional breakage that occurs from an update or upgrade.

Linux Mint has a Debian edition that I've been using for awhile now. It's quite nice! https://www.linuxmint.com/download_lmde.php

I’ve removed snap and had absolutely no issues. My Ubuntu install now upgrades software in the same way as before snap became the default install method. This script seems comprehensive https://github.com/grobo021/snap-nuke

I remove snap as the first thing on most of my installs.

I hate hate hate hate hate snap. It's a bad idea, badly done.

Short answer: yes.

Long answer: if you want to use Firefox you’ll have to find an unsupported way of running it. Chromium is also a snap in the repositories ( it is a meta package)

I’ve had a good experience with setting up the Brave repository from the official website and using that.

Live patch is a commercial product and I don’t think many home users of Ubuntu use it.

If doing a fresh install is viable for you, I recommend PopOS 22.04 they ship and support their own build of Firefox as a native package and flatpak and flathub are configure out of the box and are preferable to snaps (but not forced on you)

Just go with Debian bro. Saves you the hassle and it’s the same thing with less Conanical.

Fresh install? There is an easy way to find out :)

I did it. Never regretted it.

No flatpak either.