Ubuntu Announces New Snap Desktop Launchers

Canonical developers have been working on new Snap desktop launchers for improving integration of Snap GUI packages with the converged Ubuntu desktop.

These new Snap desktop launchers provide a closer and more unified level of integration among packaged desktop applications. Didier Roche, Ubuntu Desktop Technical Leader at Canonical, explained, "The goal was to streamline the experience and ensuring that all following user visible features are working, independent of the toolkit or technology you are using."

The desktop launcher work includes binding the desktop theme for GTK and Qt applications, better icon theme integration, application menu integration with Unity, preserving XDG-based data on upgrades, GSetting keys for reading, and improving the behavior of launchers.

More information on these new Snap-based desktop launchers and screenshots showing the difference it has on GTK/Qt packaged applications can be found via this developer.ubuntu.com post.