How to Install Atom IDE on Ubuntu

Atom is a free text editor created by Github that is highly popular because it is absolutely free, easy to use, has support for many programming languages, and has add-ons for more functions. The application is pretty much up-to-date as it can be customized according to personal needs to have a better coding experience.

This article will discuss the installation process of Atom on Ubuntu, and enumerate several features, usage tips, and solutions to possible problems.

Key Features of Atom IDE

The best features that make it easier for developers to adopt coding using Atom editor are:

1. Install or create packages for additional functionality with ease.
2. Adding key themes, bindings, and toolbars makes the interface modifiable giving users the ability to customize it.
3. Seamlessly integrate with Git repositories or GitHub.
4. Some users can work with you using the package Teletype.
5. Code completion features are provided.
6. Editing capabilities are provided for browsing and managing your projects without leaving the editor.

Installing Atom IDE on Ubuntu

Atom is a versatile lightweight text editor that is very helpful for programmers because of its unique features and customizability. It can be installed on Ubuntu effortlessly. To install Atom and get started with your development projects, follow the steps below:

Before proceeding with the Atom installation, first, check the Ubuntu version to avoid compatibility issues.

Step 1: Update System Packages

Open a terminal and run this command to update your system and get the latest security patches and software versions:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Download Atom Ubuntu

You can install apps on Ubuntu and other Debian-based systems using .deb files. This method is helpful because it lets you get the latest version. For example, to install Atom Text Editor, you can download its .deb file from GitHub:

You can download the Atom .deb file by running the following command:

wget https://github.com/atom/atom/releases/download/v1.60.0/atom-amd64.deb

Step 3: Install Atom Ubuntu

Now navigate to the folder where Atom is downloaded and double-click on it to open it:

Click the “Install” button to begin the installation process:

Alternatively, you can use the apt package manager to install Atom on Ubuntu from its .deb file:

sudo apt install ./atom-amd64.deb

Step 4: Verify Installation

After the installation process is completed, check the Atom version to ensure it is installed correctly:

atom --version

The output shows the installed version of Atom IDE and its related components, confirming a successful installation:

Step 5: Start Atom on Ubuntu

To start using Atom, you can either run the “atom” command from the terminal or search for “Atom” in your system’s application menu and click to launch:

That’s all about the Atom IDE installation on Ubuntu.

Conclusion

Atom is a highly customizable text editor that offers excellent features for developers across various platforms, including Ubuntu. Atom IDE is a great choice for coding projects because it has an easy-to-use interface, supports many programming languages, and offers powerful add-ons. In this article, we demonstrated the simple steps to install Atom on Ubuntu, from updating system packages to verifying the installation. 

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