Install And Remove Software In Manjaro

Since their inception, Linux distributions have come a long way. It used to be difficult for new users to accomplish simple actions like installing an application on Linux. The desktop environments are significantly easier to grasp now than they were previously.

One of the most exciting aspects of the progress is that numerous distribution teams have created package management systems that allow the software to be installed across the Linux environment. One package can be installed on all three operating systems, Fedora, Ubuntu, and Arch.

So, when it comes to installing software in Manjaro nowadays, there are several options, all of which are simple for a new Linux user.

pacman – An arch package manager

Arch Linux’s default package manager is pacman. We can use pacman to install and remove software on Manjaro Linux, whether it’s from the distro’s repository or the user’s own build.

Arch Repositories – Official Repository & AUR

There are two kinds of repositories in Arch. The first is the official repository of the distribution, which contains a list of essential software maintained by package maintainers. Manjaro has its own repository, allowing it to distribute packages that are completely compatible with the distribution. The second repository is the Arch User Repository, or AUR, which contains community-managed packages.

Both of these repositories can be used by pacman to install packages. Manjaro does not enable the AUR by default for its users. In order to install software such as Google Chrome, AUR must be enabled in Manjaro.

Both Arch Linux and Manjaro warn their users before installing applications from the AUR. AUR packages may not work as intended because the distribution maintainers do not test them. Each package in AUR is controlled by a different member of the community and may break with fresh distribution upgrades.

Install AUR packages at your own risk.

However, one can go to AUR and search for the package that they want to install. The package page offers critical information that will assist users in deciding whether or not to install the program.

Install software from AUR in Manjaro

pamac build package_name

Search packages from AUR

pamac search -a package_name

Install Software in Manjaro using pacman

pacman -S package_name

Remove Software in Manjaro using pacman

pacman -R package_name

pamac – pacman GUI – Add/Remove Software

The pacman command-line tool provides a fast and simple way to install packages from the official repository or AUR. Manjaro also has pamac, a pacman GUI interface that is comparable to, if not better than, Ubuntu’s software center.

Open pamac from the app menu. The name of pamac in the app menu is ‘Add/Remove Software‘.

pamac in Manjaro

It is simple to install software using pamac, as shown in the screenshot above. Simply click ‘Install’ next to the software name, and it will compile and install the software for you.

Enable AUR in pamac

By default, pamac does not search for packages in AUR. To enable AUR, click the three dots in the top right of the window > click Preferences.

Enable AUR in Manjaro

Click the AUR tab and toggle on ‘Enable AUR support.’

Now pamac will also include packages from AUR in user searches. For example, try to search ‘chrome‘. It’ll show results from Arch User Repository.

Snap in Manjaro

Snap is a new method to package and distribute software throughout Linux distributions. We can install snaps on any Linux distribution whether the distro has official support for it or not.

Snaps maintain all the dependencies separately that consume extra disk space. Also, snaps do not always respect the system theme.

To install snaps support in Manjaro, use pacman and install snapd.

sudo pacman -S snapd

Enable snapd using the following command –

sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket

Or enable the snapd using pamac. Go to pamac Preferences settings > Snap and toggle on ‘Enable snap support‘.

Enable snap in Manjaro

Now, all your searches will also include snap apps, as shown in the screenshot below.

Install snap in Manjaro

Install snap from CLI

Alternatively, users can use snap command-line options to search, install, remove, or list snap apps in Manjaro.

Search snap app

snap search package_name

Example – Search for keepass

[sandy@Manjaro ~]$ snap search keepass
Name             Version     Publisher       Notes  Summary
keepassxc        2.6.1       keepassxreboot  -      Modern, secure, and cross-platform password manager compatible with KeePass
keepassx-elopio  2.0.2       elopio          -      KeePassX is a cross platform password safe
authpass         1.7.8+1552  hpoul✓          -      Open Source Password Manager with KeePass file support.
newpass          1.0         lepidus         -      Generate a random password of a specified length from the command line
kpcli-elopio     3.0         elopio          -      KeePass Command Line Interface

Install snap app

snap install package_name

Example – Install keepassxc snap

[sandy@Manjaro ~]$ snap install keepassxc
keepassxc 2.6.1 from Jonathan White (keepassxreboot) installed

Remove snap app

snap remove package_name

Example – Remove keepassxc snap

[sandy@Manjaro ~]$ snap remove keepassxc
keepassxc removed

List installed snap apps

snap list

[sandy@Manjaro ~]$ snap list
Name               Version                     Rev   Tracking       Publisher       Notes
core               16-2.46.1                   9993  latest/stable  canonical✓      core
core18             20200724                    1885  latest/stable  canonical✓      base
gnome-3-28-1804    3.28.0-17-gde3d74c.de3d74c  128   latest/stable  canonical✓      -
gtk-common-themes  0.1-36-gc75f853             1506  latest/stable  canonical✓      -
kde-frameworks-5   5.47.0                      27    latest/stable  kde✓            -
keepassxc          2.6.1                       1006  latest/stable  keepassxreboot  -
snap-store         3.31.1+git187.84b64e0b      415   latest/stable  canonical✓      -
snapd              2.46.1                      9279  latest/stable  canonical✓      snapd

Flatpak in Manjaro

Flatpak, like snaps, is a method for packaging and distributing software across Linux distributions. It has the same benefits and drawbacks as the usual packaging system.

Flatpak is compatible with all Linux distributions. They address the issue of porting software in numerous packaging systems to be installable on various Linux variants. Flatpaks, on the other hand, do not update with system upgrades and must be updated independently. Furthermore, they install all dependencies individually, which takes up extra disc space, and system themes are not always supported.

Install Flatpak support in Manjaro

pamac install flatpak

Once flatpak is installed, users can use flatpak command in the terminal to manage flatpaks in Manjaro. But, users can also enable flatpak to be included in pamac results.

Open pamac, go to Preferences settings > Flatpak, and toggle on ‘Enable flatpak support‘.

Enable Flatpak in Manjaro

Now all the search results in pamac will also include flatpak.

Install flatpak from pamac

Install flatpak from CLI

One can also use flatpak command in the terminal to manage flatpaks in Manjaro.

Search flatpak

flatpak search package_name

Example – Search for keepass flatpak

[sandy@Manjaro ~]$ flatpak search keepass
Name         Description                                                       Application ID          Version Branch Remotes
Password Sa… A password manager for GNOME                                      org.gnome.PasswordSafe  3.99.2  stable flathub
KeePassXC    Community-driven port of the Windows application “KeePass Passwo… org.keepassxc.KeePassXC 2.6.1   stable flathub

Install flatpak

To install flatpak, copy the flatpak Application ID and use it to install the app.

flatpak install application_id

Example – Install Keepass flatpak

flatpak install org.keepassxc.KeePassXC

Remove flatpak

Similarly, remove any flatpak using the application id.

flatpak remove application_id

Example – Remove Keepass flatpak

[sandy@Manjaro ~]$ flatpak install org.keepassxc.KeePassXC
Looking for matches…
Found similar ref(s) for ‘org.keepassxc.KeePassXC’ in remote ‘flathub’ (system).
Use this remote? [Y/n]: Y
Required runtime for org.keepassxc.KeePassXC/x86_64/stable (runtime/org.kde.Platform/x86_64/5.15) found in remote flathub
Do you want to install it? [Y/n]: Y

org.keepassxc.KeePassXC permissions:
    ipc            network                ssh-auth              wayland                 x11
    devices        file access [1]        dbus access [2]       bus ownership [3]

    [1] /tmp, host, xdg-config/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser/NativeMessagingHosts:create,
        xdg-config/chromium/NativeMessagingHosts:create, xdg-config/google-chrome/NativeMessagingHosts:create,
        xdg-config/kdeglobals:ro, xdg-config/vivaldi/NativeMessagingHosts:create, ~/.mozilla/native-messaging-hosts:create,
        ~/.tor-browser/app/Browser/TorBrowser/Data/Browser/.mozilla/native-messaging-hosts:create
    [2] com.canonical.AppMenu.Registrar, com.canonical.Unity.Session, org.freedesktop.Notifications,
        org.freedesktop.ScreenSaver, org.freedesktop.login1.Manager, org.freedesktop.login1.Session, org.gnome.ScreenSaver,
        org.gnome.SessionManager, org.gnome.SessionManager.Presence, org.kde.StatusNotifierWatcher
    [3] org.kde.StatusNotifierItem-2-2


        ID                                                 Branch          Op          Remote          Download
 1. [✓] org.freedesktop.Platform.GL.default                20.08           i           flathub          42.1 MB / 42.3 MB
 2. [✓] org.freedesktop.Platform.GL.nvidia-450-66          1.4             u           flathub           1.0 kB / 99.9 MB
 3. [✓] org.kde.KStyle.Adwaita                             5.15            i           flathub           6.1 MB / 6.1 MB
 4. [✓] org.kde.Platform.Locale                            5.15            i           flathub          17.7 kB / 341.1 MB
 5. [✓] org.kde.Platform                                   5.15            i           flathub         311.5 MB / 388.3 MB
 6. [✓] org.keepassxc.KeePassXC                            stable          i           flathub           9.9 MB / 11.2 MB

Changes complete.

List installed flatpaks

flatpak list

Upgrade flatpak

flatpka upgrade

Summary

So, that’s how you install software on Manjaro. Support for snaps and flatpaks is a huge benefit for people who enjoy experimenting with different applications. There is a vast selection of software accessible, and most people can get what they need from at least one of these sources.

Manjaro has created well-written documentation that goes into great detail on each topic. So, for further information, consult the manual.

If you have any questions, you can leave them in the comments section below this article or join our Telegram channel for the most up-to-date information.