How to Install and Manage Applications Using Snap Package
Snap is a file package applications on the GNU/Linux operating system. Snap package become another alternative for application developers in distributing applications in an easier way. Different by file type package DEB and RPM, package Snap works on all Linux distributions.
That way application developers can distribute their applications in only one type package which can then be used in various Linux distributions. Previously, Flatpak and AppImage had the same goal of creating a package universal installation for all Linux distributions.
In this article we will learn how to use Snap to install, remove, update and manage apps from package Snaps.
Looking for Application Packages Available on Snap
Before installing the application you want, you can see the list of applications available on Snap. Open Terminal on your Linux using a keyboard combination CTRL + ALT + T or open Terminal via the application menu.
Enter the following command in Terminal to see a list of applications available on Snap:
sudo snap find
Then a list of all applications available on Snap will appear that you can install on your device.
To search for an application or package More specifically, for example, you want to find out if an application you want to install is available on Snap, you can add the name of the application you want to search for after the “snap find” command, as follows:
snap find nama-package
To seek package In a more complete way, which will display a more complete description of the application, you can add the “grep search” command to the previous command, as follows:
snap find | grep search
How to Install Applications Using Snap Package
To install an app from Snap packageyou can use the command “snap install” followed by the name package of the application you want to install.
Because this command will change system files and will require permissions root. Don’t forget to add the “sudo” command at the beginning of the command like this:
sudo snap install nama-package
For example, if for example you want to install the Telegram application, you can type the following command in Terminal:
sudo snap install telegram-latest
Then Snap will download and install package Snap from the application, and it will appear output from the progress of installing the application on the Terminal. Wait for the download and installation process of the application to complete.
After the application installation process is complete, you can open the application like an application in general. If the application you installed is a GUI application, you can open it via launcher or application menu. If the application you installed is a CLI application, you can open it using Terminal.
How to Update and Downgrade Applications Using Snap Packages
Applications in Snap will continue to be updated when the latest version of the application is available. To use the latest version of the application, you do not need to reinstall.
You can update apps that you have installed from Snap by using the “refresh” command. To update all installed apps from Snap on your device, enter the following command in Terminal:
sudo snap refresh
If you want to update only a specific app, just add the name package of the application you want to update in front of the previous command, as follows:
sudo snap refresh nama-package
Then wait for the application update process to complete.
For some reason, you can also do downgrade an application that you have updated before. Maybe you don’t like the new version of the app you installed or the latest version of the app doesn’t work well on your device.
You can do downgrade the application to the version you previously installed on your device by entering the following command in Terminal:
sudo snap revert nama-package
Then wait for the process downgrade it to completion.
How to Remove an App from Snap Package
To remove an application that you have installed from your Linux using Snap, you can use the “snap remove” command followed by the name package of the application, as follows:
sudo snap remove nama-package
Then Snap will delete the application, wait for the process of deleting the application to complete.
How to View Installed Apps from Snap Package
To see the applications that you have installed on your computer using Snap, you can use the “list” command as follows:
snap list
Then a list of applications that are already installed on your device will appear, complete with the version of the application.
