How to Install and Use Snap Packages on Ubuntu?

Snap is a package management system for Ubuntu and other Linux distributions that allows you to install and manage software packages from the command line. Snap packages are self-contained and include all of the dependencies required to run the software, making them easy to install and update.

Here’s how to install and use Snap packages on Ubuntu:

1. Install Snap

To use Snap on Ubuntu, you’ll need to install the Snap package manager. If you’re using Ubuntu 16.04 or later, Snap should be installed by default. If not, you can install it using the following command:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install snapd

2. Find and Install Packages

To find and install Snap packages, you can use the “snap” command followed by the “find” subcommand and the name of the package you’re looking for. For example, to find the Visual Studio Code Snap package, you can use the command:

snap find vscode

To install a Snap package, use the “install” subcommand followed by the name of the package. For example, to install Visual Studio Code, you can use the command:

snap install vscode

3. Update and Remove Packages

To update a Snap package, use the “refresh” subcommand followed by the name of the package. For example, to update Visual Studio Code, you can use the command:

snap refresh vscode

To remove a Snap package, use the “remove” subcommand followed by the name of the package. For example, to remove Visual Studio Code, you can use the command:

snap remove vscode

4. Manage Snap Services

Some Snap packages include background services that run when the system starts. To manage these services, you can use the “services” subcommand followed by the name of the service. For example, to list all available Snap services, you can use the command:

snap services

To start, stop, or restart a Snap service, use the “start,” “stop,” or “restart” subcommands, respectively. For example, to start the “foo” service, you can use the command:

snap start foo

By following these steps, you can easily install and manage Snap packages on Ubuntu. Whether you’re looking for popular applications or specialized tools, Snap provides a convenient way to find and install the software you need.