Snap packages represent a modern form of software distribution on Linux. Thanks to their universal nature and isolation from the rest of the system, they allow for easy installation, updating, and removal of software regardless of distribution. In this article, we'll demonstrate how to work with Snap applications directly from the command line.

Searching for Snap Apps

To search for available Snap packages, the snap find command is used. This command allows you to search the Snap repositories for applications based on keywords. For example, if you want to find all available versions of the VLC application, you would use the command:

snap find vlc

This command will display a list of Snap packages related to VLC, including a brief description and version.

Installing Snap Apps

After finding the desired application, you can install it using the snap install command followed by the application name. For example, to install VLC, you would enter:

snap install vlc

Installation may require administrative privileges, so you may need to precede the command with sudo to gain installation permissions.

Updating Snap Apps

Snap applications usually update automatically, but if you want to manually trigger an update for all installed Snap packages, use the command:

snap refresh

If you want to update a specific application, use snap refresh followed by the application name:

snap refresh vlc

Removing Snap Apps

If you no longer need an application, you can remove it using the snap remove command followed by the application name. To remove VLC, for example, you would use:

snap remove vlc

This command will remove the application along with all its associated data and configurations from the Snap installation.

 

Working with Snap applications from the command line is simple and efficient. Commands such as snap find, snap install, snap refresh, and snap remove allow you to easily manage Snap packages on your Linux system. Thanks to the isolation provided by Snap, you can experiment with various software without worrying about instability or conflicts in the system.