# Difference between Firefox from browser ballot and software center

**URL:** <https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/difference-between-firefox-from-browser-ballot-and-software-center/416>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [May 10, 2018, 9:04am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/difference-between-firefox-from-browser-ballot-and-software-center/416 "2018-05-10T09:04:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wAuner](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/wauner/32/216_2.png) [@wAuner](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/wAuner)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 9:04am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/difference-between-firefox-from-browser-ballot-and-software-center/416/1 "2018-05-10T09:04:23Z")

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Hi,

I noticed that the Firefox version from the browser ballot of budgie welcome comes with another Icon than the “original” one, which I get when I install the snap from the software center.  
Are there any other more important differences between the two?

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**Author:** ![wAuner](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/wauner/32/216_2.png) [@wAuner](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/wAuner)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 9:15am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/difference-between-firefox-from-browser-ballot-and-software-center/416/2 "2018-05-10T09:15:18Z")

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I also noticed that mozilla provides its own snap packages as a tar ball from their website: [Link](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/download/thanks/). There you get version 60 and the software center is still on 59.

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 9:59am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/difference-between-firefox-from-browser-ballot-and-software-center/416/3 "2018-05-10T09:59:53Z")

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So remember there is usually a few days between when mozilla releases a version and when a tested version built specifically for Ubuntu is available - through a snap and/or a debian package.

So welcome always installs the debian package version - so it is native to Ubuntu and the browser integrates fully with the whole desktop.

The snap version is in its own container - so completely sandboxed from the rest of the client. So the security of firefox in a snap is great - just if you are using firefox in an unusual way, you may not be able to integrate in the same way.

For most people who just browse - the snap and debian native version will behave and work the same.

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**Author:** ![wAuner](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/wauner/32/216_2.png) [@wAuner](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/wAuner)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/difference-between-firefox-from-browser-ballot-and-software-center/416/4 "2018-05-10T14:35:58Z")

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I see, thank you. So the welcome version has its own icon due to the other install method.

Just a quick follow up. Mozilla distributes its own version as a snap package, which seems to be just a tarball containing the snap directory structure. I haven’t used snaps before. How would I install such a snap tarball such that I also get a proper entry in the start menu?

Btw I noticed that it often takes 5 or more minutes after I install a package until the app shows up in the start menu.

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**Author:** ![bashfulrobot](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/bashfulrobot/32/3_2.png) [@bashfulrobot](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/bashfulrobot)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/difference-between-firefox-from-browser-ballot-and-software-center/416/5 "2018-05-10T15:51:41Z")

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Hello @wAuner,

The installation of the snap is pretty typical with `sudo snap install firefox`. Regardless of the internals of the snap itself - the process (for installation) is the same. Now when it comes to menu entries, this is dictated by how the snap author built the snap. And if they put the \*.desktop files in the appropriate place. But that more so is just the “availability” of the menu item. As for the delay, TBH, I need to research that. I’ll have a quick boo over on the snapcraft forum and see if it is a known issue. And if it is not, a bug report may need to be filed. Let me get back to you.

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**Author:** ![wAuner](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/wauner/32/216_2.png) [@wAuner](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/wAuner)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/difference-between-firefox-from-browser-ballot-and-software-center/416/6 "2018-05-10T16:24:29Z")

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hey, thanks for your reply.

Would `sudo snap install firefox` not search for the firefox snap in a repository? What I meant is how to install the tarball after downloading it via the browser.

The problem with the delay isn’t limited to snaps, but also occurs when I install packages via apt.

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**Author:** ![bashfulrobot](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/bashfulrobot/32/3_2.png) [@bashfulrobot](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/bashfulrobot)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/difference-between-firefox-from-browser-ballot-and-software-center/416/7 "2018-05-10T16:32:13Z")

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No, that would pull it from the snap store. Maybe I am misunderstanding something here. You are trying to install from a local source? Likely the snap has not yet been build in that format.

Snap packages are distributed through the snap store. There is no download (an I have never seen a method for an unbuilt local source. The `snap install` will download and install the containerized version of the app.

Now if you have downloaded the source tar and it includes a \*.snap file, you could isntall that, but you will nto get any updates, etc.

```auto
sudo snap install /path/to/xxxx.snap

```

But I would just install from the snap store. There is no benefit to installing from a local file unless you authored and built the snap and you are testing prior to pushing to the store.

If I am missing something here, please let me know. 🙂

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2018, 7:14pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/difference-between-firefox-from-browser-ballot-and-software-center/416/8 "2018-05-10T19:14:26Z")

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the delay to adding to the menu is because the developers did not merge back the previous changes when updating the package for 18.04.

I have proposed a fix for this here [https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-menus/+bug/1765799](https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-menus/+bug/1765799)

Subscribe to the bug report for further updates