[Snap Core24] Unnecessary .desktop file created

[whitenoisedev]

We noticed an unnecessary (duplicate or wrong) .desktop file created while building Obsidian Snap package.

Our setup is electron builder 26.15.7, core24, classic confinement, syncDesktopName: true, and desktopName: md.obsidian.Obsidian

Two .desktop files were generated (so there are two items in the user's app launcher).

md.obsidian.Obsidian.desktop
obsidian.desktop

We were expecting only the first one, not the second.
They have the same content.

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Obsidian
Exec=obsidian %U
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Icon=${SNAP}/meta/gui/icon.png
StartupWMClass=md.obsidian.Obsidian
Comment=Obsidian
MimeType=x-scheme-handler/obsidian;
Categories=Office;

[atirna]

I traced the Core24 path and it currently both writes snap/gui/<desktopName>.desktop and sets apps.<app>.desktop to the same file. Snapcraft documents snap/gui as a standalone desktop-entry mechanism, while apps.<app>.desktop produces the app-specific host launcher; that appears to explain the duplicate with syncDesktopName.

I propose a focused Core24 fix that keeps the generated snap/gui entry and its desktopName/StartupWMClass behavior, but omits the redundant app desktop mapping. I would add a descriptor regression and extend the existing Linux Core24 check around the generated metadata. Does that direction match the intended Snapcraft integration, and may I take it?

[whitenoisedev]

Just to clarify that, within the produced snap, the files are in meta/gui/

[atirna]

ah yeah, inside the snap those land in meta/gui/. thanks for the correction