How to Install Snapd and Snap-Store on Debian 12, 11 or 10

Snapd is a service that enables the installation and management of Snap packages on Linux systems. Snaps are containerized software packages that are simple to create and install, and they automatically update. Snap Store is the platform where users can browse and install Snap packages. Installing Snapd and Snap Store on Debian 12, 11, or 10 allows you to easily access a wide range of software applications that are packaged as Snaps, ensuring that you always have the latest versions with minimal hassle.

To install Snapd and Snap Store on Debian, follow these methods. This guide will cover the installation process and basic configuration to get you started with using Snaps on your Debian system.

Update Debian Packages Before Snapd Installation

Before installing Snapd, you must ensure your Debian system is up-to-date with the latest package updates and security patches. You can accomplish this by running the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

sudo apt update syncs your local package database with the official Debian repositories, making it aware of the latest package updates and changes. Subsequently, sudo apt upgrade will upgrade all the upgradable packages on your Debian system.

Install Snapd via APT Command

Snapd is accessible from the default Debian repository. It provides a platform for running and managing Snap packages on a Linux distribution.

To initiate the installation process of Snapd, use the apt package manager as follows:

sudo apt install snapd

Verifying of Snapd Installation

Upon successful installation, confirming that Snapd is ready to serve is essential. We can do this in two steps.

First, we check the installed version of Snapd. It validates that the installation process was completed successfully and provides us with the installed version number.

snap version

Second, we verify the status of the Snapd service. This ensures that Snapd is running and ready to manage Snap packages.

You can check the systemctl status of Snapd with the following command:

systemctl status snapd

If Snapd is functioning correctly, the service should be active. However, if the service hasn’t activated, you can manually start it and enable it to start automatically at system boot using the following command:

sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket

Install Snap Core

Snap Core is an essential component for running Snap packages. You can install it using the following command:

sudo snap install core

The snap install core command asks Snapd to download and install the core Snap is the runtime environment that enables you to run Snap applications.

Enable Classic Confinement for Snap Packages

Specific Snap applications operate under ‘classic’ confinement, which provides the applications with broader permissions within your system. To accommodate these applications, it’s necessary to establish a symbolic link in your file system.

This is done by invoking the following command:

sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

The ln -s command in Linux creates a symbolic or soft link. Here, it links the /var/lib/snapd/snap directory to /snap, enabling classic confinement for Snap packages requiring it. This ensures full compatibility and proper functioning of all Snap packages on your Debian system.

Basic Snap CLI Commands

This section will explore some fundamental Snap command-line interface (CLI) commands. Understanding these commands will empower you to manage your Snap applications efficiently.

Install a Snap Package

To install a Snap package, use the snap install command followed by the package name. For instance, to install the VLC media player, you would use:

sudo snap install vlc

Remove a Snap Package

The snap remove command lets you uninstall a Snap package. For example, to remove the VLC media player, run:

sudo snap remove vlc

Update a Snap Package

Snapd automatically updates your Snap packages in the background. However, if you wish to update a specific package, use snap refresh manually. For example:

sudo snap refresh vlc

List Installed Snap Packages

To display a list of all installed Snap packages, use the snap list command:

snap list

Check Snap Version

To view the installed version of Snapd, run the following command:

snap version

Find Available Snap Packages

If you’re searching for a specific Snap package in the Snap Store, use the snap find command followed by your search term. For example, to find media players, use:

snap find "media player"

Check Information About a Snap Package

To display detailed information about a specific Snap package, use the snap info command. For instance, to get information about the VLC media player, run:

snap info vlc

Checking Snap Changes

The snap changes command lets you view the history of Snap tasks, including installations, updates, and removals:

snap changes

Revert a Snap to a Previous Version

If a new version of a Snap package isn’t working as expected, you can use the snap revert command to roll back to the previous version. For example:

sudo snap revert vlc

Checking Snap Interfaces on Debian

The snap interfaces command provides an overview of your Snap packages and the system resources to which they have access:

snap interfaces

These basic commands form the foundation of Snap package management. The following section now looks at how to install Snap-Store for Debian desktop users.

Install Snap Store on Debian

Install Snap Store via Snap Command

Once you’ve successfully configured Snapd on your Debian system, you can add a layer of functionality and ease of use – the Snap Store. The Snap Store features a graphical user interface that offers an attractive and intuitive way to browse and handle Snap packages.

This step is not mandatory. However, the Snap Store is a user-friendly option for users who prefer a visual approach instead of the command line. To initiate the installation of the Snap Store, input the following command:

sudo snap install snap-store

This command instructs Snapd to download and install the snap-store package, thus introducing a graphical dimension to your Snap package management.

Launching the Snap Store

With the installation process completed, the Snap Store can be launched in several ways.

A direct method while operating in the terminal would be to execute the following command:

snap run snap-store

This command triggers Snapd to run the Snap Store application. However, using the terminal each time to open the Snap Store might not be the most practical method.

For more intuitive access to the Snap Store, you can navigate through your desktop environment: Activities > Show Applications > Snap Store.

This pathway guides you to the Snap Store through your graphical user interface, offering a more traditional and user-friendly means of accessing and managing your Snap packages.

Below is a quick example of Installing Krita with Snap Store on Debian, which you can see in the following image in the right-hand corner where the “source:” is located.

Management Commands of Snap

Handling Missing Snap Icons

While managing Snap packages on Debian, for the most part, Snap functions seamlessly with most packages. However, occasional anomalies can occur, such as missing application icons in the system’s app launcher. This can be resolved with the following steps:

Initiate the solution by creating a symbolic link using the ln -s command as follows:

sudo ln -s /etc/profile.d/apps-bin-path.sh /etc/X11/Xsession.d/99snap

This command creates a symbolic link between the apps-bin-path.sh and 99snap files, enabling your system to locate Snap application icons.

Proceed by opening the login.defs file with a text editor, nano in this case:

sudo nano /etc/login.defs

Upon accessing the file, append the following line of code at its end:

ENV_PATH PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/snap/bin

This code augments the system’s environment path, providing an additional location to search for application icons.

Save the modifications made to the file by pressing CTRL+O and exit nano by pressing CTRL+X.

To enact these adjustments, a system logout and login cycle is required. However, for a comprehensive application of these changes, a system restart is recommended:

sudo reboot now

Upon logging back into the system post-restart, the previously missing Snap application icons should now be in the app launcher.

Remove Snap and Snap Store

Snap showcases its efficiency and user-friendliness not just in installing packages but also in their removal. If you wish to remove all Snap installations alongside the Snap package manager, you don’t need to uninstall each Snap package.

The sole action required is the removal of the snapd service, which concurrently uninstalls all installed Snap packages:

sudo apt remove snapd

Remember, you do not need to remove all Snap installations; when removing snapd, it will remove all associated installed packages, making it an easy, quick, and clean removal of Snap and its associated installations.

Conclusion

With Snapd and Snap Store successfully installed on your Debian system, you can take full advantage of the wide range of applications available as Snaps. Regularly check for updates to keep your software current and benefit from the latest features and security enhancements. Enjoy the convenience and simplicity that Snap packages bring to your Debian environment.