Slack is a widely-used communication platform that integrates messaging, file sharing, and collaboration tools into a single interface, making it an essential tool for teams and organizations. It supports real-time messaging, voice and video calls, and a range of integrations with other productivity apps, enabling seamless collaboration whether you’re working in the office or remotely. Slack’s ability to organize conversations into channels and threads helps keep communication structured and easy to follow.
For Fedora 40 or 39, you have two primary options to install Slack. One method is to manually download the RPM package from Slack’s official website and install it via the command-line terminal, ensuring that you have the latest stable version tailored for Fedora. Another option is to install Slack via Flatpak from Flathub, which provides a sandboxed environment that may simplify updates and enhance security. This guide will cover both installation methods, allowing you to choose the best fit for your system.
Method 1: Install Slack via RPM
Update Fedora Before Slack Installation
Before installing Slack, it is advised to verify that all significant packages on your system are up-to-date to avoid any potential issues with the following command:
sudo dnf upgrade --refreshDo not forget to reboot if any Linux Kernels have been updated.
Download Slack RPM
Slack is not included in Fedora’s default repositories; therefore, it is necessary to download the .rpm package from the Slack downloads page. After obtaining the latest download link, the package can be downloaded using the command line terminal:
wget https://downloads.slack-edge.com/releases/linux/x.x.x/prod/x64/slack-x.x.x-x.x.xxxx.x86_64.rpmNavigate to Slack Download Directory
If obtaining the download link from the browser presents difficulties, the user can directly download the Slack package from the browser. Upon completion, the package will be saved in the downloads directory, which can be accessed via the command line by running the following command:
cd ~/Downloads/Install Slack via DNF Command
The next step is to install the previously downloaded Slack package using the appropriate command. Running the installation command will initiate the installation process, enabling the successful deployment of Slack on the system.
sudo dnf localinstall slack-*Method 2: Install Slack via Flatpak and Flathub
Flatpak is a widespread software deployment and package management system that allows users to install and run applications in a sandboxed environment. It enables the distribution of applications that can run on different Linux distributions, irrespective of their differences in software versions and dependencies.
Flatpak comes pre-installed on several Linux distributions, including Fedora, and allows users to easily install and run applications from the Flathub repository, a centralized store for Flatpak applications. Flathub hosts many applications, including popular ones like Slack, LibreOffice, and GIMP.
Enable Flathub For Slack Installation
To install an application using Flatpak on Fedora, you must first enable Flathub on your system. This is done by opening a terminal and entering the following command:
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoInstall Slack via Flatpak Command
To install Slack using Flatpak, follow these steps:
flatpak install flathub com.slack.SlackShould the earlier command encounter a failure, resulting in an error message such as “error: Unable to load summary from remote flathub: Can’t fetch summary from disabled remote ‘flathub’,” employ the command below:
flatpak remote-modify --enable flathubThis step may be necessary if your system has not activated the Flathub repository or is disabled.
Launch Slack UI
Once Slack is installed via Flatpak or RPM on your Fedora system, you can launch it through the command line or by accessing the application icon.
CLI Methods to Launch Slack
To launch Slack via the command line using Flatpak, you can open a terminal and enter the following command:
flatpak run com.slack.SlackIf you installed Slack using RPM, you could launch it by opening a terminal and entering the following command:
slack
GUI Method to Launch Slack
Finally, you can access the Slack icon from the Applications menu if you prefer the graphical interface. To do this, click the Activities button at the top-left corner of your screen, then search for Slack. Once you find it, click on the icon to launch the application.
Additional Slack Commands
Update Slack
Firstly, for the RPM method, you will need to use the same method to re-install Slack when updating the binary. Slack offers no native RPM repository to use with your DNF package manager compared to most other software.
For Flatpak installations, run the following command to update Slack:
flatpak update com.slack.SlackOr
flatpak update Remove Slack
To remove the RPM installation of Slack, use the following command:
sudo dnf remove slackLastly, Flatpak installations can remove Slack using the following command:
flatpak uninstall com.slack.SlackConclusion
Installing Slack on your Fedora system via either the manual RPM download or Flatpak from Flathub ensures that you have a versatile communication platform ready for team collaboration. The RPM method gives you direct access to Slack’s latest stable release, while Flatpak offers a secure and isolated environment with potentially easier update management. By keeping Slack updated through these channels, you can ensure your team communication remains smooth and efficient on Fedora.