The article explains how to install the lightweight e‑book reader Foliate on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS using three command‑line approaches: the native APT repository, a Snap package, or a Flatpak from Flathub. It provides the exact commands for each method, notes that APT offers easy integration but older versions, Snap gives sandboxed up‑to‑date builds with larger downloads and slower start‑up, and Flatpak delivers the newest releases at the cost of additional runtime space. For each option it lists pros, cons, and a tip to avoid the common “missing libgdk‑pixbuf” error. Finally, the guide advises choosing APT for stability, Snap as a convenient middle ground, or Flatpak when you need the latest features across multiple Linux distributions.

Install Foliate eBook Viewer on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS – three command‑line ways

Foliate is a lightweight, CSS‑styled ebook reader that works great with EPUB and MOBI files. This guide shows you how to get it onto an Ubuntu 22.04 LTS system using the classic APT repository, Snap, or Flatpak. Pick the method that fits your workflow and avoid the common “missing libgdk‑pixbuf” error I’ve seen after a careless apt install.

1. Install via APT (the distro’s package manager)

Ubuntu 22.04 ships Foliate in its official repos, so this is the quickest path.

sudo apt update # refreshes the package list; ensures you get the latest version available for Jammy
sudo apt install foliate

Why the update first? Without it, APT might try to pull an old cache entry and complain about unmet dependencies. After installation, launch Foliate from the Activities menu or type foliate in a terminal.

Pros: integrates with your system’s package database, gets automatic security updates.
Cons: version lags behind upstream – at the time of writing it’s 3.4.x while newer releases sit on Flathub.

2. Install via Snap (container‑like packaging)

If you prefer a more up‑to‑date build without adding extra repos, Snap does the trick:

sudo snap install foliate

Snap packages run in an isolated sandbox, so they bring their own libraries. That means you won’t hit the “missing libgdk‑pixbuf” problem that sometimes shows up after a broken APT upgrade. The downside is a slightly larger download (the whole runtime is bundled) and slower startup because of the confinement layers.

Tip: To get the classic desktop integration, run snap connect foliate:desktop. Most recent Ubuntu installations do this automatically, but on a minimal install you might need it.

3. Install via Flatpak (universal distro‑agnostic format)

Flatpak is my go‑to when I want the absolute newest features and don’t mind an extra runtime download.

# If flatpak isn’t already installed
sudo apt install flatpak

# Add Flathub repository (the main source for most apps)
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

# Install Foliate from Flathub
flatpak install flathub com.github.johnfactotum.Foliate

The remote-add line only needs to be run once; it tells Flatpak where to fetch packages. The final command pulls the latest stable release (often a couple versions ahead of Ubuntu’s repo). I’ve seen users complain that Flatpak apps sometimes miss system theme integration, but Foliate respects GTK themes just fine on my GNOME desktop.

Pros: bleeding‑edge updates, works across many Linux distributions.
Cons: occupies extra disk space for the runtime and may feel heavier than a native APT install.

Which method should you choose?

• Stick with APT if you like everything managed by Ubuntu’s package tools and don’t need the newest features.
• Snap is a solid middle ground: easy one‑liner, sandboxed, and auto‑updates.
• Flatpak wins when you want the latest bug fixes or plan to run Foliate on several distros without fiddling with each repo.

Give one a try, then open an ebook and see how smooth the scrolling feels. If anything goes sideways—like the dreaded “cannot find libfoliate” error—I’ve found reinstalling via Flatpak usually clears it up.

Happy reading, and may your margins stay just wide enough for those footnotes!