[Linux] Steam Snap Save Sync Spot

[PurpleRiver]

I've installed Steam with Snap on Ubuntu 24.04 with `$ sudo snap install steam`, and Steam syncs the cloud saves to `/home/username/snap/steam/common/.factorio/saves` but Factorio expects them to be in `/home/username/.factorio/saves`.

It can be fixed with creating a symlink `$ ln -s /home/username/snap/steam/common/.factorio/saves /home/username/.factorio/saves` but I'm not sure this is something that the user should have to do?

[Rseding91]

This sounds like a Steam and or Snap issue. But I'll leave it to the linux people to talk about.

[SpookyNachos]

Yes, I can confirm this is the case as well. I thought I was going crazy testing the cloud save between Snap Steam and my Mac.

Only options appear to be to do the symlink or not install the snap version of Steam. I'm not sure how saves are done usually on Linux so unsure if Factorio should be looking for an environment variable or set folder from Steam about where to store saves.

[haschel]

I had issues finding the actual Steam sync folder on a Snap/Linux install and OP pointed right to it. I was specifically trying to synchronize my Linux desktop Factorio save to my Steam Deck and the symlink as OP described allowed my Linux desktop local files to be synced via Steam Sync Cloud to the Deck.

Long story short, trick local Factorio saves to point to Steam Cloud Sync folders via a symbolic link as OP described. If you have existing saves, back them up before making any changes to ensure no data loss. Copy the .zip file to the .../snap/... directory to allow local Factorio runtime to read and write to/from the Steam Cloud Sync folder via symlink and ensure changes are replicated to Steam Cloud and Steam Deck.

[raiguard]

Yeah, the code for this was written long before containerized apps like snap and flatpak were introduced. I am hesistant to change this code because it could easily blow up and testing it will be difficult.

2.0.20 will prioritize the $HOME environment variable over getpwuid(), so if flatpak and/or snap override this variable then it should work now. But it's not a guarantee.