How to Install Wike on Ubuntu 24.04/22.04/20.04 Linux

Accessing and reading Wikipedia content directly from your desktop can be incredibly convenient, especially for research and quick information lookup. The Wikipedia reader application offers several key features:

• Offline Access: Browse Wikipedia articles without an internet connection.
• Search Functionality: Quickly find specific articles and topics.
• User-Friendly Interface: Easy navigation with a clean and simple design.
• Bookmarking: Save your favorite articles for quick access later.
• Multilingual Support: Access Wikipedia content in various languages.

If you want to install a Wikipedia reader on your Ubuntu system, follow this simple guide tailored for Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, and 20.04 LTS distributions. You can choose one of the following command-line methods:

• Launchpad PPA: Preferred for users seeking the latest updates directly from the package maintainer.
• Flatpak with Flathub: Offers a more sandboxed approach to installing applications, ensuring compatibility across various Linux distributions.
• Snapcraft: Aimed at providing secure and isolated software packages, often maintained directly by the software’s authors.

With the introduction out of the way, let’s explore how to install a Wikipedia reader on your Ubuntu distribution utilizing the command-line terminal.

Method 1: Install Wike with LaunchPAD PPA

Update Ubuntu Before Wike Installation

Before we begin the installation process, ensuring your Ubuntu system is up-to-date is essential. This will help avoid potential issues during the installation and ensure your system runs smoothly. To do this, open your terminal and enter the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Import Wike LaunchPAD PPA

The recommended method for installing Wike is importing the LaunchPAD PPA maintained by Archisman Panigrahi. This will provide you with the latest stable release, features, and improvements.

First, install the required dependencies on your system. Enter the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt install software-properties-common apt-transport-https -y

Next, import either the stable or daily build PPAs. If you import both, the system automatically selects the repository with the newest version, likely the development build.

Import Wike Stable PPA (Recommended):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:apandada1/wike -y

Import Wike Daily Builds PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:apandada1/wike-daily -y

Refresh Packages List After Wike PPA Import

Now that you’ve imported the desired PPA, it’s time to update the packages list to reflect the new changes. Run the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt update

Install Wike via APT Command

With the packages list updated, you’re now ready to install Wike. Enter the following command in your terminal to start the installation process:

sudo apt install wike

Method 2: Install Wike via Flatpak and Flathub

This section explores an alternative method for installing Wike through the Flatpak package manager. Like Snap, Flatpak is a popular third-party installation package manager in many Linux distributions, providing access to the latest packages.

Note: If your system does not have Flatpak installed, please refer to our guide on How to Install Flatpak on Ubuntu for step-by-step instructions on installing the most recent supported version of Flatpak.

Enable Flathub For Wike

Before installing Wike through Flatpak, you must enable the Flathub repository, a primary source for Flatpak applications. To enable Flathub, execute the following command in your terminal:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

This command adds the Flathub repository to your Flatpak configuration, ensuring you have access to various applications, including Wike.

Install Wike on Ubuntu via Flatpak Command

With Flathub enabled, you can now install Wike using the flatpak install command. Run the following command in your terminal:

flatpak install flathub com.github.hugolabe.Wike -y

Method 3: Install Wike via Snapcraft

The third method we will be covering is installing Wike with Snapcraft. Snap is an uncomplicated system for managing and installing software on Ubuntu, making setting up applications like Wike straightforward.

Ensure Snap is Installed on Your Ubuntu System

For those systems without Snap pre-installed, you can swiftly install it using the command given below:

sudo apt install snapd -y

Install the Core Snap

Before you install Wike, having the ‘core’ snap is beneficial. The ‘core’ snap is essential as it provides the fundamental libraries and services for all Snap applications, ensuring they run smoothly and efficiently. Install it with the command:

sudo snap install core

Install Wike via Snap Command

With the core snap, you are all set to install Wike. Execute the following command to initiate the installation:

sudo snap install wike

Launch Wike Wikipedia Reader via GUI or CLI Methods

Now that you have successfully installed Wike, it’s time to launch the application and enjoy a seamless Wikipedia browsing experience. Depending on your preferences and installation method, there are several ways to open Wike.

CLI Methods to Launch Wike on Ubuntu

If you have an open command terminal and would like to launch Wike immediately, you can enter the following command that matches your installation method:

APT Wike Installations run command:

wike

Flatpak Wike Installations run command:

flatpak run com.github.hugolabe.Wike

Snap Wike Installations run command:

snap run wike

GUI Method to Launch Wike on Ubuntu

Most desktop users may prefer to launch Wike using the application icon. To do this, navigate through the following path on your desktop:

Activities > Show Applications > Wike

Additional Wike Commands

This section will discuss managing Wike on your Ubuntu Linux system, including updating and removing the application.

Update Wike

APT Wike Update Command Method:

Open your terminal and run the following command to update your package list.

sudo apt upgrade

Now, upgrade your packages, including Wike, with the following command:

sudo apt upgrade

Flatpak Wike Update Command Method:

To update all Flatpak packages, including Wike, run the following command in your terminal:

flatpak update

Snap Wike Update Command Method:

Snapcraft installations similar to Flatpak need to run one command to check for updates for Wike and any other Snap-installed software:

snap refresh

Remove Wike

If you decide to remove Wike from your system, follow these steps based on your installation method:

APT Remove Method Commands For Wike

Run the following command to remove Wike from your system.

sudo apt remove wike 

If you have no intention of re-installing Wike, you should remove the PPAs.

Stable PPA Removal Command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:apandada1/wike -y

Daily PPA Removal Command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:apandada1/wike-daily -y

Flatpak Remove Method Command For Wike

To remove Wike installed via Flatpak, execute the following command in your terminal:

flatpak uninstall com.github.jakubsteplowski.wike

Snap Remove Method Command For Wike

To remove Wike installed via Snap, use the following command:

sudo snap remove wike

Conclusion

This guide has walked you through installing the Wikipedia reader on Ubuntu, detailing key features and installation methods. We’ve covered how to set it up using Launchpad PPA, Flatpak, or Snapcraft, and provided tips for getting the most out of the application. As a final recommendation, explore the settings to personalize your experience for a smoother reading journey. Happy reading!