Multipass/VMs by default discourages newcomers
Metadata
Current evaluation
Feature request: make Snapcraft's Multipass/VM-by-default build path more newcomer friendly (prominent messaging, KVM/nested-virt detection, LXD fallback, docs); partially addressed by health checks, docs, and LXD default on Linux
Suggested action: keep open
Reason: Maintainers acknowledged and acted on parts of it ("we improved in the 1.0 is health checks" from saviq, plus multipass error messages fixed upstream), and the repo now defaults to LXD on Linux while docs/how-to/set-up-snapcraft.rst explicitly warns Multipass "can't be used reliably on platforms that don't support nested virtualization". However, the substantive asks (LXD fallback, prominent pre-launch statement, release vs. debug build distinction per townsend) are still unimplemented in snapcraft/providers.py, which still hardcodes 'multipass' as the non-Linux default, and the issue is a bundle of four loosely-specified ideas with no acceptance criteria, so it stays open but needs scoping rather than a turnkey fix.
Evaluated by: mr-cal-bot
Issue body
Evaluation history
| Date | Model | Scores | Action | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| stealth/space-bunny-alpha |
Impact:
38
Quick Win:
5
Complexity:
62
Confidence:
72
Actionability:
32
|
keep open | Feature request: make Snapcraft's Multipass/VM-by-default build path more newcomer friendly (prominent messaging, KVM/nested-virt detection, LXD fallback, docs); partially addressed by health checks, docs, and LXD default on Linux | |
| stealth/space-bunny-alpha |
Impact:
55
Quick Win:
11
Complexity:
68
Confidence:
88
Actionability:
62
|
keep open | Multipass-based default builds caused confusing nested-VM failures and slow newcomer workflows; diagnostics and setup docs improved, but non-Linux defaults and provider fallback behavior remain unresolved. | |
| stealth/space-bunny-alpha |
Impact:
47
Quick Win:
11
Complexity:
58
Confidence:
91
Actionability:
56
|
keep open | Multipass still complicates onboarding in some VM and non-x86 setups despite improved health checks, error messages, and provider documentation; the requested fallback and default changes remain unresolved. | |
| stealth/space-bunny-alpha |
Impact:
44
Quick Win:
6
Complexity:
70
Confidence:
88
Actionability:
48
|
needs triage | Multipass remains the macOS/Windows default and can block nested-VM users or slow iteration; Linux now uses LXD and current docs warn about nested virtualization. | |
| stealth/space-bunny-alpha |
Impact:
48
Quick Win:
8
Complexity:
68
Confidence:
86
Actionability:
55
|
needs triage | Untriaged request to improve automatic Multipass UX for newcomers through warnings, VM checks or fallback, better documentation, and iteration/release defaults; non-Linux still defaults to Multipass. | |
| qwen/qwen3.8-27b |
Impact:
55
Quick Win:
16
Staleness:
95
Complexity:
70
Confidence:
55
Support Request:
25
|
needs triage | Snapcraft's default use of Multipass for builds frustrates newcomers (nested-VM failures on macOS/Windows, slow builds from silent LXD-to-Multipass switch); proposes warnings, KVM detection, docs, and release/debug defaults. Open 6.6 years, no labels, no comments, no maintainer response. | |
| qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b |
Staleness:
95
Complexity:
30
Confidence:
80
Support Request:
10
|
needs triage | External contributor reports Snapcraft's default Multipass/VM usage creates friction for newcomers, especially in nested virtualization setups. Suggests better warnings, availability checks, and documentation. Untriaged and inactive for over six years. | |
| qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b |
Staleness:
95
Complexity:
45
Confidence:
85
Support Request:
20
|
needs triage | Issue reports that Snapcraft's default use of Multipass/VMs creates friction for newcomers, especially in nested VM environments. Suggests better warnings, fallbacks, and docs. Currently untriaged with no maintainer response after ~6.5 years. | |
| qwen3.6-35b-a3b-mtp-q6 |
Staleness:
95
Complexity:
55
Confidence:
90
Support Request:
20
|
close stale | Unaddressed feedback from over six years ago regarding Snapcraft's default Multipass usage discouraging newcomers. Suggests UX warnings, KVM checks, fallbacks, and documentation updates. No maintainer response or labels. |
Update history
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| created |
Related work
-
Related To:
snapcraft (launchpad)#1859427
(confidence 85%)
Companion bug cited by the reporter for the automatic Multipass install; fixed by commit eb9bd8fbf (PR #2869) installing Multipass from stable.
-
Related To:
multipass#1342
(confidence 80%)
Upstream issue filed by saviq; relates to the confusing 'launch failed / shutdown called while starting' output quoted in the thread.
-
Related To:
multipass#1312
(confidence 80%)
Upstream fix that produced the clearer 'CPU does not support KVM extensions' message shown in the saviq comment of 2020-02-10.
Related issues
No related issues found above the similarity threshold.