There’s literally no limit of how many Linux distros can be out there, right? Now, add the fact that they all use different type of software installation methods and voila! You’re at the damn confusing scenario – which one to get????

Well, for making things easier, there’s a better solution that’s already established itself in the heart of the community. The “snap” package system offers a really intuitive method of installing all the popular software of Linux in a universal manner. No more messing around with confusing command lines, DEB/RPM/TAR.GZ files and others.

Setting “snap” core

Well, not all the Linux distros come up with “snap” preconfigured. In most cases, you have to prepare your system by yourself so that it can handle “snap” packages. Don’t worry; it’s an easy job.

Just run the following command(s) according to your Linux distro.

• Ubuntu

sudo apt update

sudo apt install snapd

• Debian

sudo apt update

sudo apt install snapd

If “sudo” isn’t installed, then follow the following steps.

su root

apt update

apt install snapd

• Fedora

sudo dnf install snapd

sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

• OpenSUSE

Enable repo –

sudo zypper addrepo --refresh https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/system:/snappy/openSUSE_Leap_15.0 snappy

sudo zypper dup --from snappy

Install “snap” service –

sudo zypper install snapd

sudo systemctl enable snapd

sudo systemctl start snapd

• Arch Linux

git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/snapd.git

cd snapd

makepkg -si

sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket

sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

Configuring “snap”

For “snap” to work properly, you need the “core” snap package. Run the following command –

sudo snap install core

For other Linux distros, check out the official documentation of “snapd”.

Voila! Installation complete!

Using “snap”

When you issue a command for installing a snap package, the “snapd” will grab it from the snap servers and install it into your system.

For installing a snap, find it out first in the Snapcraft Store.

Then, run the following command for installing the snap.

sudo snap install <snap_package_name>

Need to find out how many snap packages are installed?

snap list

You can easily disable/enable a snap package.

sudo snap disable <snap_package_name>

sudo snap enable <snap_package_name>

You don’t have to manually update snap packages. The “snapd” regularly checks for updates and updates all the snap packages to the latest version. However, you can manually issue an update order.

sudo snap refresh

Need to find out all the available things you can do with snap?

snap --help

Enjoy!