linglong/docs/pages/en/guide/start/whatis.md

Overview

linyaps, an open source package format developed by UnionTech Software, is designed to manage, distribute, create sandboxes for packages, and integrate development tools, instead of using package management tools such as deb or rpm.

Current Issues with Package Managers

1. Both deb and rpm are strongly-dependent package management systems that allow complex cross dependencies (or circular dependencies) between components, which makes maintenance a matter of great expertise. A little carelessness will lead to a complete system failure that cannot be repaired.
2. Installation dependencies and running dependencies are coupled so that multiple versions can hardly coexist. Although deb and rpm have provided several solutions to solve the multi-version coexistence problem, these solutions require changes in source code and are infeasible.
3. The Hook system is complex and has no restrictions, through which many operations can damage the system.
4. They have insufficient reliability, no redundant recovery design, and a lack of verification mechanisms. Once the package management system fails, the system can hardly be repaired.
5. The permissions of deb and rpm are loosely controlled with significant security risks.
6. The current package updates do not support incremental updates, which is a great waste of resources.

Advantages of Linyaps

1. Improve usability and solve the dependency conflict problem of deb and rpm.
2. Implement the application permission management mechanism to strengthen security.
3. Support incremental updates of applications.

Comparison

Feature	Linyaps	Flatpak	Snap	AppImage
Desktop Application Packaging	✔	✔	✔	✔
Terminal Application Packaging	✔	✔	✔	✔
Server Application Handling	✔	✘	✔	✘
System Service Packaging (root privileges)	✘	✘	✔	✘
Theme Functionality Normal	✔	✔	✔	✔
Library Hosting Service Provided	✔	✘	✘	✘
Library/Dependency Source	Package carries its own
Host System	Package carries its own
SDK	Package carries its own
Snap Base
Commercial Support	✔	✘	✔	✘
Number of App Stores	Estimated 4700+	1400+	6600+	1300+
Development Tool Support	linglong-builder	GNOME Builder	electron-builder
Container Support	✔	✔	✔	◐ (Not officially provided, technically feasible)
Rootless Container	✔	✘	✘	✘
Run Without Installation	✔ (Provides Bundle Mode)	✘	✘	✔
Run Without Extraction	✔ (Provides Bundle Mode)	✘	✔	✔
Self-distribution/Green Format Distribution	✔	✘	✘	✔
Wine Application Support	✔	◐ (Theoretically feasible	◐ (Theoretically feasible)	◐ (Uses LD to modify open calls, poor compatibility)
Offline Environment Support	✔	✔	✔	✔
Permission Management	✔	✔	✔	✘
Central Repository	mirror-repo-linglong.deepin.com	FlatHub	Snap Store	AppImageHub
Multi-version Coexistence	✔	✔	✔	✔
Peer-to-peer Distribution	✔	✔	✔	✔
Application Upgrade	Repository upgrade	Repository upgrade	Repository upgrade	Official tool upgrade