Incorrect Exec entry transformation in .desktop file
Metadata
Current evaluation
Snapcraft incorrectly transforms Exec=snap run <snap> in .desktop files to Exec=<snap> run <snap>, producing a broken command. 6+ years old, no labels, no comments, no maintainer interaction.
Suggested action: needs triage
Reason: The issue has no labels, zero comments, and no maintainer response in over 6 years, showing no sign of triage. However, code inspection tools are unavailable (pinned SHA errors), so it cannot be confirmed whether the desktop file Exec transformation in snapcraft/meta/desktop.py still exhibits this bug. A maintainer needs to verify if the 'snap run' → snap-name substitution still occurs in the current codebase before deciding to close or fix.
Impact:
35
Quick Win:
21.0
Staleness:
95
Complexity:
40
Confidence:
40
Support Request:
10
Issue body
Changes made to the Exec entry for a .desktop file can result in an invalid entry:
For example, with this input:
[Desktop Entry]
Name=egmde (confined)
Comment=The example Mir server
Exec=snap run egmde-confined-desktop
Type=Application
The result is:
$ cat /snap/egmde-confined-desktop/current/meta/gui/egmde-confined-desktop.desktop
[Desktop Entry]
Name=egmde (confined)
Comment=The example Mir server
Exec=egmde-confined-desktop run egmde-confined-desktop
Type=Application
$ cat /var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications/egmde-confined-desktop_egmde-confined-desktop.desktop
[Desktop Entry]
X-SnapInstanceName=egmde-confined-desktop
Name=egmde (confined)
Comment=The example Mir server
Exec=env BAMF_DESKTOP_FILE_HINT=/var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications/egmde-confined-desktop_egmde-confined-desktop.desktop /snap/bin/egmde-confined-desktop run egmde-confined-desktop
Type=Application
But trying to run `env BAMF_DESKTOP_FILE_HINT=/var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications/egmde-confined-desktop_egmde-confined-desktop.desktop /snap/bin/egmde-confined-desktop run egmde-confined-desktop` will fail:
$ env BAMF_DESKTOP_FILE_HINT=/var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications/egmde-confined-desktop_egmde-confined-desktop.desktop /snap/bin/egmde-confined-desktop run egmde-confined-desktop
realpath: '': No such file or directory
realpath: '': No such file or directory
realpath: '': No such file or directory
realpath: '': No such file or directory
realpath: '': No such file or directory
realpath: '': No such file or directory
realpath: '': No such file or directory
realpath: '': No such file or directory
Unknown command line options: run egmde-confined-desktop
Evaluation history
| Date | Model | Scores | Action | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| qwen/qwen3.8-27b |
Impact:
35
Quick Win:
21.0
Staleness:
95
Complexity:
40
Confidence:
40
Support Request:
10
|
needs triage | Snapcraft incorrectly transforms Exec=snap run <snap> in .desktop files to Exec=<snap> run <snap>, producing a broken command. 6+ years old, no labels, no comments, no maintainer interaction. | |
| qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b |
Staleness:
95
Complexity:
40
Confidence:
85
Support Request:
10
|
close stale | Bug report detailing incorrect Exec entry transformation in snapd-generated .desktop files, causing runtime failures. Unlabeled, zero comments, and inactive for over five years. | |
| qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b |
Staleness:
95
Complexity:
40
Confidence:
80
Support Request:
5
|
close stale | Incorrect Exec entry transformation in .desktop files causes command execution failures. Issue remains untriaged with zero maintainer interaction for over five years. | |
| qwen3.6-35b-a3b-mtp-q6 |
Staleness:
95
Complexity:
40
Confidence:
80
Support Request:
10
|
needs triage | Unassessed bug report detailing incorrect Exec entry transformation in snapd-generated .desktop files, causing execution failures. No maintainer response or labels in over six years. | |
| qwen3.6-35b-a3b-mtp-q6 |
Staleness:
95
Complexity:
45
Confidence:
85
Support Request:
5
|
close stale | Bug in .desktop Exec entry transformation generates invalid commands that fail at runtime. Open with zero comments and no activity since 1912 days ago, requiring triage and assignment. |
Update history
No update history recorded yet.
Related work
-
Related To:
snapcraft#1814907
(confidence 55%)
Launchpad bug 'desktop file Exec mangling broken' covers the same desktop-file Exec transformation area but a different failure mode (Exec left unmodified rather than incorrectly rewritten). Closed without resolution.
Related issues
| Issue | Project | State | Summary | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1814907 desktop file Exec mangling broken | snapcraft (launchpad) | closed | Closed without resolution. Snapcraft failed to mangle desktop file Exec lines to the $snap.$app format, leaving them unmodified. No fix or follow-up was provided. | |
| #1655832 App name in snapcraft.yaml must match case of .desktop file | snapcraft (launchpad) | open | Snapcraft breaks the .desktop file Exec line when the app name case in snapcraft.yaml mismatches the .desktop filename. Reported 2016, untriaged, no maintainer response, inactive 9 years. | |
| #1658123 Exec key from desktop files gets trimmed when installed by snapd | snapcraft (launchpad) | closed | Snapd incorrectly trims invalid Exec keys from desktop files during installation. The report was closed without resolution and appears abandoned. |