Incorrect Exec entry transformation in .desktop file
Metadata
Current evaluation
Snapcraft still rewrites only the first desktop Exec token, turning snap run egmde-confined-desktop into egmde-confined-desktop run egmde-confined-desktop; deprecation was discussed but not implemented.
Suggested action: keep open
Reason: The report provides an exact input, generated output, and failing command, and snapcraft/parts/desktop_file.py still unconditionally replaces exec_split[0] while preserving the invalid run argument. A maintainer explicitly said rewriting would be deprecated and warned, but no corresponding removal or safeguard is present in the current code or tests.
Evaluated by: mr-cal-bot
Impact:
48
Quick Win:
17
Complexity:
52
Confidence:
92
Actionability:
74
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| stealth/space-bunny-alpha |
Impact:
48
Quick Win:
17
Complexity:
52
Confidence:
92
Actionability:
74
|
keep open | Snapcraft still rewrites only the first desktop Exec token, turning snap run egmde-confined-desktop into egmde-confined-desktop run egmde-confined-desktop; deprecation was discussed but not implemented. | |
| stealth/space-bunny-alpha |
Impact:
46
Quick Win:
18
Complexity:
55
Confidence:
93
Actionability:
88
|
keep open | Desktop Exec rewriting turns `snap run egmde-confined-desktop` into an invalid command; acknowledged for deprecation, but the current implementation still rewrites it. | |
| qwen/qwen3.6-35b-a3b |
Impact:
40
Quick Win:
26
Complexity:
20
Confidence:
85
Actionability:
80
|
keep open | Bug in snapcraft desktop file Exec entry transformation: 'snap run <snap>' is incorrectly rewritten, breaking desktop integration. | |
| qwen/qwen3.8-27b |
Impact:
35
Quick Win:
21
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. |
Update history
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| created |
Related work
-
Related To:
snapcraft (launchpad)#1658123
(confidence 91%)
Earlier Exec-rewriting bug produced invalid aliases; fixed by PR #1061 and commit b393badb4, but it did not address commands beginning with snap run.
Related issues
No related issues found above the similarity threshold.