These are all the ways To Install Applications On Ubuntu

There are several ways to install applications on ubuntu . Here is a list and a brief about them .

Snap Applications ( Snapcraft )

This is the new default in ubuntu now. Snap apps are much easier to install and manage as these apps don’t depend on OS level packages at all . They are sandboxed applications that carries their own dependencies with package .

Snaps can be manged from either command line or GUI ( snapstore ) .Snapstore are managed by canonical (The company behind Ubuntu).Although Snapstore is maintained by canonical , snaps can be used on any linux distro .

Flatpak Applications

This application format is new just like snap apps . This one is the real rival to snaps . Unlike Snapstore , anyone can create their own version of flatpack store . Flatpaks are also sandboxed applications that comes bundles with their own dependencies.

Managing flatpacks is also easy . The biggest repository for flatpak apps is flathub .

Flatpak applications are available on most linux distros .

Appimage Applications

This application format is similar to mac os dmg files. Snaps and flatpaks are sandboxed applications but still has some interaction with the OS . In case of appimages , we don’t have to install them , we can just download it , give it execute permission and we are good to go . It is most convenient and easy way of havin apps on Ubuntu or any linux distro .

Although this is easy and convinient , its not that much popular unlike Snaps and Flatpaks. You can find appimage applications at Appimage Hub . This one can be used on any linux Distro .

Deb Applications (using package manager )

This one is by far the most used way of installing applications on ubuntu . Its convinient , fast , easy . Available from command line and Graphical Store. Installing applications and packages using package manager is go to option for developers .

deb applications get integrated with OS , used OS level dependencies and not at all sandboxed . These type of applications can crash system if not used , managed properly .

unlike snaps , flatpak or appimages , this way is only applicable for ubuntu and ubuntu based distros .

PPA ( Personal Package Archieves )

PPAs are nothing but repositories maintained by third parties . These are also managed by package manager (apt ) . These PPAs can be used by ubuntu and ubuntu based distros only .

Building From Source

This one is last and least used method of installing softwares . Generally not recommended for beginners . In this method , we can get source of a open source application and follow its build instructions .

These application have to be maintained maually by ourselves.If we want to upgrade these apps , we have to rebuild them from new source code again .