As you may know, Skype is among the most popular communication and messaging applications, supporting Linux, Windows, macOS, and mobile platforms. It enables users to make audio and video calls, but it also provides chat functionalities.
However, Microsoft has announced that it will discontinue the development of Skype starting May 5. Until then, Skype remains fully functional and can still be used for communication purposes.
By default, Skype is available as a Snap package on Ubuntu, rather than a traditional DEB package. This means it can be installed easily via the Snap package management system without needing to download additional dependencies.
How to Install Skype Using Snap
What is Snap
Snap is a package management system developed by Canonical, the creators of Ubuntu. It allows applications to be packaged with all their dependencies, making installations easier and reducing compatibility issues across different Linux distributions.
One of the key advantages of Snap packages is that they run in a sandboxed environment, which enhances security and stability. Additionally, Snap packages are updated automatically in the background, ensuring that users always have the latest version of an application without manual intervention.
However, some users may find that Snap applications take up more disk space due to bundling dependencies, and they may have slightly slower startup times compared to traditional DEB packages.
Prepare Snap, if needed
On Ubuntu, Snap is pre-installed, but if you are using a Linux distribution where Snap is not integrated by default, you can install it using the following command:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapdAfter installing Snap, you may need to enable and start the Snap service:
sudo systemctl enable --now snapdInstall Skype via snap
Since Skype is officially available as a Snap package, installing it on Ubuntu is straightforward. Open a terminal and run the following command:
sudo snap install skype --classicThis will download and install the latest version of Skype from the Snap Store.
Optional, uninstall Skype Using Snap
If you ever need to remove Skype, you can do so with the following command:
sudo snap remove skypeHow to Install Skype Using Flatpak
What is Flatpak
Flatpak is another popular package management system, designed to provide a consistent and secure way of distributing applications across various Linux distributions. Unlike Snap, which is developed and maintained by Canonical, Flatpak is an open-source project supported by the Freedesktop community.
Flatpak applications run in their own sandboxed environment, which prevents them from interfering with system files. This ensures better security and isolation while allowing applications to run on any Linux distribution that supports Flatpak.
One of Flatpak’s main advantages is its decentralized nature. Users can download applications from Flathub, the main Flatpak repository, rather than relying on distribution-specific repositories. However, just like Snap, Flatpak applications can take up more space due to their bundled dependencies.
Setup Flatpak and install Skype
If you prefer to install Skype using Flatpak, first ensure that you have Flatpak installed on your system. If Flatpak is not installed, you can set it up with the following command:
sudo apt install flatpakNext, add the Flathub repository, which hosts the Skype Flatpak package:
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoOnce Flatpak is installed and Flathub is added, install Skype with:
flatpak install flathub com.skype.ClientOptional, uninstall Skype using Flatpak
To remove Skype if installed via Flatpak, use the command:
flatpak uninstall com.skype.ClientConclusion
Skype can be installed on Ubuntu using either Snap or Flatpak, both of which provide easy-to-use and sandboxed environments for applications.
The Snap version is the default and integrates well with Ubuntu, while the Flatpak version offers an alternative for users who prefer a decentralized package management approach. Depending on your system preferences, you can choose the method that best suits your needs.
