📌 How to Install Applications in Ubuntu Using Commands

Ubuntu provides multiple ways to install applications using the terminal. In this blog, we will cover two efficient methods:

  1. Using Snap Package Manager (Recommended for most users)
  2. Using AppImage with WLGI (For portable applications)

🚀 1. Installing Applications via Snap Package Manager

✅ What is Snap?

Snap is a universal package manager developed by Canonical that allows you to install software across different Linux distributions. It ensures applications are always updated and sandboxed for security.

🔹 Installing Snap (If Not Installed)

Ubuntu comes with Snap pre-installed. If not, install it using:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapd -y

🔹 Enable Snap Service

After installation, enable the Snap daemon:

sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket

🔹 Install an Application Using Snap

To install an app, use:

sudo snap install

For example, to install VS Code:

sudo snap install code --classic

🔹 Launching the Installed Application

Once installed, open the application by running:

For example:

code

🔹 Creating a Desktop Shortcut for Snap Apps

Snap applications automatically create shortcuts, but if missing:

  1. Open terminal and create a .desktop file: 
nano ~/.local/share/applications/code.desktop
  1. Add the following content: 
[Desktop Entry]
   Name=Visual Studio Code
   Exec=/snap/bin/code
   Icon=/snap/code/current/meta/gui/code.png
   Terminal=false
   Type=Application
   Categories=Development;
  1. Save and close (CTRL + X, Y, ENTER).
  2. Make it executable: 
chmod +x ~/.local/share/applications/code.desktop
  1. Find the app in your application menu! 🎉

🔥 2. Installing Applications Using AppImage with WLGI

✅ What is AppImage?

AppImage is a portable package format that allows running applications without installation. To integrate them with the desktop environment, we use WLGI (AppImage Launcher).

🔹 Downloading an AppImage

You can download AppImage files from the official website of the application.
For example, to download Cursor (AI-Powered Code Editor):

wget -O ~/Downloads/cursor.AppImage "https://download.cursor.sh/latest-linux"

🔹 Making the AppImage Executable

Navigate to the directory where the AppImage is downloaded and run:

chmod +x ~/Downloads/cursor.AppImage

🔹 Running the AppImage

Execute the application by running:

~/Downloads/cursor.AppImage

🔹 Setting Up a Desktop Shortcut for AppImage (Using WLGI)

To make AppImages feel like installed applications, install WLGI (AppImage Launcher):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:appimagelauncher-team/stable -y
sudo apt update
sudo apt install appimagelauncher -y

Once installed, follow these steps:

  1. Move the AppImage to Applications Folder 
mv ~/Downloads/cursor.AppImage ~/Applications/
  1. Launch it via AppImage Launcher (This integrates it with your system.) 
appimagelauncher integrate ~/Applications/cursor.AppImage
  1. Now, Cursor Editor will appear in the application menu!

🔹 Manually Creating a Desktop Shortcut for AppImage

If the app doesn’t show up in your menu, create a .desktop file manually:

  1. Open terminal and create a shortcut file: 
nano ~/.local/share/applications/cursor.desktop
  1. Add the following content: 
[Desktop Entry]
   Name=Cursor Editor
   Exec=/home/$USER/Applications/cursor.AppImage
   Icon=/home/$USER/Applications/cursor.png
   Terminal=false
   Type=Application
   Categories=Development;
  1. Save and exit (CTRL + X, Y, ENTER).
  2. Make it executable: 
chmod +x ~/.local/share/applications/cursor.desktop
  1. You should now see Cursor Editor in the application menu. 🎉

Enjoy your Ubuntu experience with easy app installations! 🚀